intervene

[ in-ter-veen ]

verb (used without object)

, in·ter·vened, in·ter·ven·ing.

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.

intervene

/ 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. foll byin or between 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

Derived Forms

• ˌinterˈvener, noun

Other Words From

• rein·ter·vene verb (used without object) reintervened reintervening
• unin·ter·vening adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intervene¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of intervene¹

C16: from Latin intervenīre to come between, from inter- + venīre to come

Example Sentences

Yet in terms of the global persistence of famine, things have not got better in the intervening 40 years.

From Salon

He also described an "emotional meeting" with one of those doctors after the police investigation began where he had apologised for not intervening sooner.

From BBC

Republicans have been quick to denounce the move - citing Biden's previous pledges not to intervene on Hunter’s behalf.

From BBC

They say the treatments are vital to young people grappling with gender identity issues, and that states have no right to intervene in their medical decisions.

From Los Angeles Times

She wrote a memoir about the trauma, which some credit with starting Japan’s #MeToo movement, and worked on her documentary, pursuing legal cases against Yamaguchi for much of that intervening period.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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