invade

The word “invade” means to enter a country or territory by force in order to take control of it. In plain terms, to forcefully enter and take over — a country, a space, or someone's privacy.

“Invade” is pronounced ihn-VAYD (/ɪnˈveɪd/ in IPA).

Here is “invade” used in a sentence: “The army invaded the neighbouring country at dawn.”

The opposite of “invade” — its antonyms — is evade.

“Invade” is a verb.

The word “invade” comes from Latin. From Latin invādō, "to enter, invade.".

“Invade” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

“Invade” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to enter a country or territory by force in order to take control of it.

Invade specifically means to enter a country or territory by force with the goal of taking control of it, implying an ongoing occupation or conquest. Attack is broader and can describe any hostile action, including a single strike, without necessarily involving entering or holding territory.

Yes, invade is also used to describe intruding on or overrunning something non-military, such as privacy, personal space, or an area, as in noise that invades a quiet neighborhood or reporters who invade someone's privacy. This figurative use keeps the sense of forceful, unwanted intrusion.

Invade refers to the act of forcibly entering territory to take control, while occupy refers to the state of holding and controlling that territory afterward. A country is invaded first and then occupied if the invading force stays and governs it.