intrude

American  

[in-trood] / ɪnˈtrud /

verb (used with object)

• intrudes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• intruded,
  past participle,  past
• intruding
  present participle

1. to thrust or bring in without invitation, permission, or welcome.

2. Geology. to thrust or force into.

3. to install (a cleric) in a church contrary to the wishes of its members.

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verb (used without object)

• intrudes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• intruded,
  past participle,  past
• intruding
  present participle

1. to thrust oneself without permission or welcome.

   to intrude upon their privacy.

   Synonyms:

   interlope, interfere

intrude British  

/ ɪnˈtruːd /

verb

1. to put forward or interpose (oneself, one's views, something) abruptly or without invitation

2. geology to force or thrust (rock material, esp molten magma) or (of rock material) to be thrust between solid rocks

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Synonym Usage

See trespass.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• intruder
  noun
• self-intruder
  noun
• unintruded
  adjective
• unintruding
  adjective
• intrudingly
  adverb
• unintrudingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• intruding
  present
• intruded
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• intrude
  simple
• intrudes
  simple
• have intruded
  perfect
• has intruded
  perfect
• am intruding
  progressive
• are intruding
  progressive
• is intruding
  progressive
• have been intruding
  perfect progressive
• has been intruding
  perfect progressive

Past

• intruded
  simple
• had intruded
  perfect
• was intruding
  progressive
• were intruding
  progressive
• had been intruding
  perfect progressive

Future

• will intrude
  simple
• will have intruded
  perfect
• will be intruding
  progressive
• will have been intruding
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of intrude

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin intrūdere “to push in,” equivalent to in- in- ² + trūdere “to push”

Explanation

When someone says, “I hate to intrude, but…” you can bet she is in fact going to interrupt your conversation or insert her opinion, even though it isn’t wanted. House burglars also intrude, but they don’t usually announce it first. People can intrude in different ways, but it is usually uninvited and also unwelcome. This verb is derived from the Latin, intrudere, in which the in- means “into” and -trudere means, “to thrust.” So people can in intrude by thrusting or forcing themselves into your private life, your personal body space, or your home. Loud music could intrude into your studying. A memory could intrude while you are trying to focus on texting a message.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intrude intrudes intruded intruding

"The court does not intrude on parliament by ensuring parliament can sit," the judgement said.

From Barron's ● May 1, 2026

Saber-rattling trumpet and timpani intrude and are shushed away as worthless.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026

The Code of Fundraising Practice stipulates that charities should not unreasonably intrude on a person's privacy, put undue pressure on a person to donate, or use unreasonably persistent approaches.

From BBC ● Jan. 23, 2026

Woodward decision established clear limits on state power to intrude on private corporations, strengthening corporate rights and autonomy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2025

“Yes, sir. Very sorry to intrude, my lord.”

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Anderson plays the children's mother, whose presence intrudes into the family's lives despite her apparently having been killed by wolves.

From Barron's ● Feb. 14, 2026

Modern observations show that parts of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet -- such as the Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers -- are already retreating rapidly as warm deep water intrudes beneath them.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2025

They are living ghosts, traumatized survivors of a school shooting that occurred 10 years earlier, but the memory of which intrudes like an unwelcome guest on a wedding celebration taking place in the present.

From Seattle Times ● May 28, 2024

Mysterious outside forces are evoked by a red hand that, in numerous works, intrudes on the scene from the picture’s edge.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 16, 2024

Into my restless sleep a figure in white intrudes.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

At highway speeds, the BBS’s inner peace is intruded upon only by the distant drumming of the vast wheels and tires.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026

This signal confirmed that magma had intruded beneath the volcano.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 15, 2026

Beijing said the aircraft had "intentionally intruded" into its airspace.

From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2025

When more theatrical elements come into play — such as the Mexican flower lady crying, “Flores para los Muertos” — the staging feels almost intruded upon by an extraneous sensibility.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2024

By the time Vivi learned how to travel there, though, reality had intruded on our plans.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

In the town of Grevena further to the south, 48‑year‑old Lefteris Zioutis regularly posts images of intruding bears on social media.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

The way everyone responded to this error—by turning a simple mistake into a ritual flogging—only bolsters the toxic notion that the press is forever viciously intruding on the secret, sacred work of perfect jurists.

From Slate ● Jul. 2, 2026

When adults appear in the background, intruding in the hackers’ bedrooms, they deflate the mood with their insensitivity.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026

Prince Harry claimed a monumental victory Wednesday as Rupert Murdoch’s U.K. tabloids made an unprecedented apology for intruding in his life over decades.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 29, 2025

At the same time, Mami and Papi battled each other, intruding into my fantasies with their real-life love-hate relationship.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago

Related Words

• encroach
• infringe
• interfere
• invade
• meddle