intervene

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.

“Intervene” is pronounced ihn-tuh-VEEN (/ˌɪntɚˈvin/ in IPA).

Here is “intervene” used in a sentence: “Neighbours intervened to break up the fight.”

“Intervene” is a verb.

The word “intervene” comes from Latin. From Latin intervenire, "to come between," from inter- ("between") plus venire ("to come").

“Intervene” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“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.

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.

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.

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.