verb

intervene

ihn-tuh-VEEN

verb

To become involved in a situation in order to change or stop what is happening.

"Neighbours intervened to break up the fight."

"The government intervened to prevent the bank from collapsing."

To occur or fall between two points in time or two events.

"Several years intervened between the two wars."

How to Use Intervene

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo step in and act to change the course of events, or simply to fall between two things in time.

Common pairings

intervene in a dispute military intervene fate intervened

intervened past tense, intervenes singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Can you complete this real example?

Neighbours _____ to break up the fight.

From Latin intervenire, "to come between," from inter- ("between") plus venire ("to come").

gene bene nene lene Rene scene Irene Keene Beene Ilene serene Selene