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Glite Dictionary
🛑 To step in ⏸️ To come between
to intervene

to intervene

197 5.0
To become involved in a situation to change or stop what is happening
  • verb
  • /ˌɪntərˈviːn/
translation icon : intervenir en
  • There's a cascade effect: when we intervene, we do so early enough to make a difference.
  • intervene in bullying
  • intervene on behalf of
  • intervene in situations

If, on the other hand, people intervene, the bully is stopped.

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Examples

  • But Western governments don't want to intervene in the conflict.

    In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011)

  • Three recent cases called on courts to intervene in disputes between clergy and a congregation.

    Academic text (1999)

  • And they did not intervene to prevent this from happening.

    Megyn Kelly

  • And I can intervene if I need to.

  • You can intervene if you want to.

    The Quiet American (1958)

  • So we're very much trying to intervene in those situations.

    Stanford

  • Well, the United Nations could intervene on a racial issue.

  • Many held that it was the government's duty to intervene in the market to protect the consumer.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Doctors were able to intervene and stop the bleeding.

  • The police had to intervene to break up the fight between the two groups.

Synonyms

to step in
vsto intervene
240 3.2

To get involved to help or take someone's place

becomes involved to change or stop outcomes, often by force or threat
to intercede
vsto intervene
15 6.7

To speak or act for someone to help end an argument

becomes involved to change or stop events, typically more direct and sometimes forceful
to interpose
vsto intervene
  • Formal
6 7.5

To interrupt by adding a remark or placing something between people

becomes involved to alter or prevent events, often using force or threat

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

to withdraw
466 2.8

To stop taking part in a place or activity

How Forceful

to force
423 6.3
to intervene
197 5.0
to interpose
  • Formal
6 7.5
to step in
240 3.2
to intercede
15 6.7
to mediate
32 5.1

Surface Forms

intervene infinitive
intervened past
intervened past participle
intervening present participle
intervenes third person singular

Morphology

intervene = inter + vene

The 'inter-' element suggests 'between' or 'among', which helps infer 'become involved', but the root is not a recognizable English base, so the derivation is only partially transparent to learners.

Etymology

The word intervene comes from the Latin parts inter- 'between' and venire 'to come', the same root you see in event, meaning 'what comes'. A helpful way to remember it is to think of someone who 'comes between' people or a problem to change what is happening, so to intervene is to step in and try to stop or change a situation.