invade

[in-veyd]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR invade ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), in·vad·ed, in·vad·ing.

to enter forcefully as an enemy; go into with hostile intent: Germany invaded Poland in 1939.

to enter like an enemy: Locusts invaded the fields.

to enter as if to take possession: to invade a neighbor's home.

to enter and affect injuriously or destructively, as disease: viruses that invade the bloodstream.

to intrude upon: to invade the privacy of a family.

to encroach or infringe upon: to invade the rights of citizens.

to permeate: The smell of baking invades the house.

to penetrate; spread into or over: The population boom has caused city dwellers to invade the suburbs.

verb (used without object), in·vad·ed, in·vad·ing.

to make an invasion: troops awaiting the signal to invade.

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 for invade

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR invade ON THESAURUS.COM

1, 2. penetrate, attack.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for invade

raid, violate, plunder, pillage, ravage, occupy, breach, storm, infect, penetrate, loot, infest, overrun, maraud, permeate, crash, burglarize, infringe, interfere, access

Examples from the Web for invade

Contemporary Examples of invade

When they invade new territory, populations are low, and the queen has limited mate options.
Mongooses, Meerkats, and Ants, Oh My! Why Some Animals Keep Mating All in the Family
Helen Thompson
December 29, 2014
On August 9, 1969, Manson sent four of his disciples to invade the home of film director Roman Polanski, who was away on a shoot.
Gay Talese on Charlie Manson’s Home on the Range
Gay Talese
October 31, 2014
Why do celebrities complain about their privacy being invaded when they invade their own so readily?
Celebrities, STFU About Your ‘Privacy’
Tim Teeman
September 24, 2014
But then the conversation turns to the question occupying all minds in Ukraine: Will Putin invade?
In War-Torn Ukraine, Savva Libkin's Delicious Recipes for Survival
Anna Nemtsova
August 12, 2014
Russia has been poised to invade Ukraine on multiple occasions and it has not happened yet.
Russia’s Military Is Already in East Ukraine. Will There Be a Full-Scale Invasion?
James Miller
August 2, 2014

Historical Examples of invade

Would it be wise to invade this home just at this juncture and introduce boarders?
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
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.
Harper's Young People, July 20, 1880
Various
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

to enter (a country, territory, etc) by military force

(tr) to occupy in large numbers; overrun; infest

(tr) to trespass or encroach upon (privacy, etc)

(tr) to enter and spread throughout, esp harmfully; pervade

(of plants, esp weeds) to become established in (a place to which they are not native)

Derived Formsinvadable, adjectiveinvader, noun

Word Origin for invade

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

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.