intervene

American  

[in-ter-veen] / ˌɪn tərˈvin /

verb (used without object)

intervened, intervening

1. to come between disputing people, groups, etc.; intercede; mediate.

   Synonyms:

   interpose, arbitrate

2. to occur or be between two things.

3. to occur or happen between other events or periods.

   Nothing important intervened between the meetings.

4. (of things) to occur incidentally so as to modify or hinder.

   We enjoyed the picnic until a thunderstorm intervened.

5. to interfere with force or a threat of force.

   to intervene in the affairs of another country.

6. Law. to interpose and become a party to a suit pending between other parties.

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intervene British  

/ ˌɪntəˈviːn /

verb

1. (often foll by in) to take a decisive or intrusive role (in) in order to modify or determine events or their outcome

2. to come or be (among or between)

3. (of a period of time) to occur between events or points in time

4. (of an event) to disturb or hinder a course of action

5. economics to take action to affect the market forces of an economy, esp to maintain the stability of a currency

6. law to interpose and become a party to a legal action between others, esp in order to protect one's interests

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Other Word Forms

• intervener noun
• reintervene verb (used without object)
• unintervening adjective

Etymology

Origin of intervene

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin intervenīre “to come between,” from inter- inter- + venīre “to come”; see also basis, come

Explanation

From the Latin "intervenire," meaning “to come between,” the verb intervene means just that: to get involved, to jump in the middle of something, to interfere. The verb intervene was first recorded around 1600. Since then there haven't been many interventions in its meaning or usage. You should probably intervene in a heated verbal fight between two of your friends before it escalates and gets physical. Especially if they're debating the United States’ habit of intervening in international conflicts.

Example Sentences

Dame Rachel said this risked "significant and repeated damage to their mental wellbeing, their relationship with the police, and showing a clear failure to successfully intervene with children."

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

The plaintiffs then filed a Hail Mary request with the Supreme Court to intervene before the D.C.

From Slate • Apr. 21, 2026

Two of the doctors failed to properly intervene as a pregnant teenager repeatedly sought care for life-threatening complications, the board found.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

Defense attorneys for others questioned why state prosecutors charged officers who failed to intervene in fights that were in effect over before they began.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Then he says that he saw me picking on a sixth grader today and decided to intervene.

From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya

Related Words

• arbitrate
• intercede
• interfere
• involve
• meddle
• negotiate