intervene
Americanverb (used without object)
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intervenes,
present (3rd person singular)
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intervened,
past participle, past
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intervening
present participle
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to come between disputing people, groups, etc.; intercede; mediate.
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to occur or be between two things.
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to occur or happen between other events or periods.
Nothing important intervened between the meetings.
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(of things) to occur incidentally so as to modify or hinder.
We enjoyed the picnic until a thunderstorm intervened.
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to interfere with force or a threat of force.
to intervene in the affairs of another country.
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Law. to interpose and become a party to a suit pending between other parties.
verb
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(often foll by in) to take a decisive or intrusive role (in) in order to modify or determine events or their outcome
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to come or be (among or between)
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(of a period of time) to occur between events or points in time
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(of an event) to disturb or hinder a course of action
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economics to take action to affect the market forces of an economy, esp to maintain the stability of a currency
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law to interpose and become a party to a legal action between others, esp in order to protect one's interests
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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intervenesimple
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intervenessimple
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have intervenedperfect
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has intervenedperfect
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am interveningprogressive
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are interveningprogressive
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is interveningprogressive
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have been interveningperfect progressive
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has been interveningperfect progressive
Past
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intervenedsimple
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had intervenedperfect
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was interveningprogressive
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were interveningprogressive
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had been interveningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of intervene
First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin intervenīre “to come between,” from inter- inter- + venīre “to come”; see also basis, come
Explanation
From the Latin "intervenire," meaning “to come between,” the verb intervene means just that: to get involved, to jump in the middle of something, to interfere. The verb intervene was first recorded around 1600. Since then there haven't been many interventions in its meaning or usage. You should probably intervene in a heated verbal fight between two of your friends before it escalates and gets physical. Especially if they're debating the United States’ habit of intervening in international conflicts.
Vocabulary lists containing intervene
Power Prefix: inter-
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The case has raised questions about how Xuan and Zhang were able to collect so many surrogate children — and what took so long for authorities to intervene.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
"The doctors believe it would be right to intervene," he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
But given past experience, current bond spreads aren’t close to a level where the ECB will intervene, says Macquarie in a note to clients.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
Secondly, that "I can't intervene more" in the process that is ongoing.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
“ENOUGH!” bellowed Harry, who had seen Ginny glowering in Ron’s direction and, remembering her reputation as an accomplished caster of the Bat-Bogey Hex, soared over to intervene before things got out of hand.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
That pause will expire on Friday unless the Supreme Court intervenes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Saroj is now demanding the government urgently intervenes and close HMP Pentonville down.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
"When one country intervenes in the decisions of another country, freedom dies," Petro wrote Tuesday in response to Trump's endorsement.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
We can see Houghton’s play in these moments, but then Alloway’s cheeky pop sensibility intervenes, the arch artificiality and ironic tone draining the emotional impact.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026
Out in the yard, the two kids start arguing over the bubble wand, and their mom intervenes.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said the person “heroically intervened to stop further loss of life.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Players from both teams intervened, and the episode was documented on video by the NFL.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
After gaining entry, he "intervened with the assistance of a cabin crew member and several passengers, and together they rescued the injured captain and restrained the suspect".
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
Riyadh intervened in the war the following year, leading an international coalition.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
It was the young swordsman who had intervened during the fight, standing between Grigori and me.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
"That this coming event is worse than that, after three intervening global bleaching events ... is a terrifying reality," he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
Upon arriving, the statues discover that Rome has undergone more than a few changes over the intervening centuries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
On the intervening night of 8 and 9 June, Satish Salian was called by the police to a hospital where he learnt that his only child was dead.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
FTC officials say Amazon has secretly inflated the minimum prices required to win ad placements, intervening in auctions to raise the price 70% to 80% of the time.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 31, 2026
We have no record of della Porta’s thoughts and feelings during this intervening week.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
