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invade

[in-veyd]
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verb (used with object), in·vad·ed, in·vad·ing.
  1. to enter forcefully as an enemy; go into with hostile intent: Germany invaded Poland in 1939.
  2. to enter like an enemy: Locusts invaded the fields.
  3. to enter as if to take possession: to invade a neighbor's home.
  4. to enter and affect injuriously or destructively, as disease: viruses that invade the bloodstream.
  5. to intrude upon: to invade the privacy of a family.
  6. to encroach or infringe upon: to invade the rights of citizens.
  7. to permeate: The smell of baking invades the house.
  8. to penetrate; spread into or over: The population boom has caused city dwellers to invade the suburbs.
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verb (used without object), in·vad·ed, in·vad·ing.
  1. to make an invasion: troops awaiting the signal to invade.
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Origin of invade

1485–95; < Latin invādere, equivalent to in- in-2 + vādere to go; see wade
Related formsin·vad·a·ble, adjectivein·vad·er, nounqua·si-in·vad·ed, adjectivere·in·vade, verb (used with object), re·in·vad·ed, re·in·vad·ing.un·in·vad·a·ble, adjectiveun·in·vad·ed, adjective

Synonyms

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1, 2. penetrate, attack.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

raidviolateplunderpillageravageoccupybreachstorminfectpenetratelootinfestoverrunmaraudpermeatecrashburglarizeinfringeinterfereaccess

Examples from the Web for invade

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Would it be wise to invade this home just at this juncture and introduce boarders?

  • General Lee was encouraged to assume the offensive, and to invade Pennsylvania.

    The Nation in a Nutshell

    George Makepeace Towle

  • The fragrance and beauty of the lily seemed suddenly to invade his spirit.

    Cleo The Magnificent

    Louis Zangwill

  • The British were about to invade the colonies from Canada by way of that lake.

  • Well––er––do you think they intend to invade our upper range this year?

    Hidden Water

    Dane Coolidge

British Dictionary definitions for invade

invade

verb
  1. to enter (a country, territory, etc) by military force
  2. (tr) to occupy in large numbers; overrun; infest
  3. (tr) to trespass or encroach upon (privacy, etc)
  4. (tr) to enter and spread throughout, esp harmfully; pervade
  5. (of plants, esp weeds) to become established in (a place to which they are not native)
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Derived Formsinvadable, adjectiveinvader, noun

Word Origin

C15: from Latin invādere, from vādere to go
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for invade

v.

late 15c., from Middle French invader "to invade," and directly from Latin invadere "to go into, enter upon; assail, assault, attack" (see invasion). Related: invaded; invading.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper