verb
Common
intervene
ihn-tuh-VEEN
Intervene (verb) means to become involved in a situation in order to change or stop what is happening. Example: “Neighbours intervened to break up the fight.”
verb
1
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."
"The teacher had to intervene when the argument got too heated."
2
To occur or fall between two points in time or two events.
"Several years intervened between the two wars."
"Two quiet weeks intervened between the interview and the job offer."
"Many strange events intervene between the first and last chapters of the book."
How to use intervene
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- intervenes
- Past tense
- intervened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Neighbours _____ to break up the fight.
Etymology
From Latin intervenire, "to come between," from inter- ("between") plus venire ("to come").
Related words
Rhymes for intervene
See all rhymes for intervene →Frequently asked questions
What does “intervene” mean?
The word “intervene” means to become involved in a situation in order to change or stop what is happening. In plain terms, to step in and act to change the course of events, or simply to fall between two things in time.
How do you pronounce “intervene”?
“Intervene” is pronounced ihn-tuh-VEEN (/ˌɪntɚˈvin/ in IPA).
How do you use “intervene” in a sentence?
Here is “intervene” used in a sentence: “Neighbours intervened to break up the fight.”
What part of speech is “intervene”?
“Intervene” is a verb.
Where does the word “intervene” come from?
The word “intervene” comes from Latin. From Latin intervenire, "to come between," from inter- ("between") plus venire ("to come").
Is “intervene” a common word?
“Intervene” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “intervene” have?
“Intervene” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to become involved in a situation in order to change or stop what is happening.
What is the difference between intervene and interfere?
Intervene means to become involved in a situation in order to change or stop what is happening, often carrying a neutral or positive tone, such as a teacher intervening in a dispute to help resolve it. Interfere suggests unwanted or unwelcome involvement in someone else's affairs, and often carries a more negative connotation than intervene.
How is intervene used to describe time?
Intervene can also mean to occur or fall between two points in time or two events, as in years intervened between the two wars. This time-related sense is distinct from the sense of stepping into a situation, though both involve something coming between two other things.
When might a government intervene in a situation?
A government or organization is said to intervene when it becomes involved in a conflict, crisis, or market situation in order to change its course, such as a country intervening militarily or a central bank intervening in currency markets. The word implies deliberate action taken to alter an existing situation.
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