to intrude

Examples

• All

• And yet more and more conservatives want the government to intrude into private decisions like abortion and all and marriage and all of that.

• Forgive me for having intruded in your meeting without your permission.

  Gussy (2022)

• Another female I observed had no need to intrude into a neighbor's territory to achieve her goal.

  Academic text (1995)

• Look, I don't mean to intrude, the door was open.

  The Cloth (2012)

• Don't intrude in my life anymore.

  Head of State (2003)

• But the state should not dictate morality, should not intrude between a woman and her doctor.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Many of the candidates also expressed reservations about intruding on family privacy.

  Academic text (2012)

• I hope you'll forgive me for intruding.

  Bel Ami (2012)

• I had an uneasy feeling of having intruded into a ladies' locker room.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Obsessions are irrational, disturbing thoughts that intrude into your consciousness.

Synonyms

I

to infiltrate

vsto intrude

127 7.4

To join a group in secret to get information or cause harm

is more general and does not require secrecy or harmful motive

I

to invade

vsto intrude

77 4.1

To enter someone's space or private life without permission

can be the same but also includes milder, nonaggressive entries

S

to sneak in

vsto intrude

• Informal

75 3.8

To go into a place quietly so no one notices

is broader, covering any unwanted entry not only secret ones

P

to pry

vsto intrude

66 5.3

Try to learn about someone's private life in an impolite way

is about entering places or situations rather than asking or prying

B

to barge in

vsto intrude

• Informal

59 5.5

Enter a room or conversation suddenly and rudely without being invited

describes unwanted entry but can be less rude or abrupt

P

to put in

vsto intrude

54 3.8

Interrupt a conversation to make a short comment or question

may be unwanted like the key but can be neutral or invited

B

to break in

vsto intrude

30 3.4

To interrupt a conversation or activity without being invited

is wider, applying to places, situations, or conversations alike

E

to encroach

vsto intrude

27 7.3

To gradually move into someone else's area, space, or rights without permission

is the simple act of entering without permission, not gradual only

I

to intrude on

vsto intrude

22 4.6

To go into someone's space or life without permission

has identical meaning but uses a different grammatical form

B

to burst in

vsto intrude

21 3.3

To enter a room suddenly and interrupt people

includes unexpected entries but also quieter or subtle intrusions

B

to butt in

vsto intrude

• Informal

21 4.4

Interrupt someone who is speaking without being invited

is broader, including physical entry as well as interruptions

N

to nose

vsto intrude

• Informal

17 7.7

To try to find out private things about someone by looking or asking

is the physical or situational entry rather than inquisitive probing

C

to creep in

vsto intrude

14 4.9

To begin to appear or affect someone slowly and quietly

is broader, covering clear or sudden unwanted entries too

T

to trespass

vsto intrude

11 4.9

To go onto someone else's land without permission

applies to any place or situation, not only private property

I

to insinuate

vsto intrude

8 7.4

To gradually join a group without being noticed

is broader, including obvious or forceful entries as well

M

to move in on

vsto intrude

8 6.3

To start taking control of a business or area without being invited

is the simple act of entering without permission, not control seeking

H

to horn in

vsto intrude

• Informal

5 8.2

To join a conversation or activity without being invited

is the neutral act of entering, not necessarily meddlesome intent

P

to push in

vsto intrude

• UK

5 5.6

To join a line or enter a place without waiting your turn

is the general unwanted entry, not limited to queues or lines

B

to burst in on

vsto intrude

3 5.2

Go into a room or conversation suddenly and interrupt people

is the general unwanted entry notion, not only sudden interruptions

E

to encroach upon

vsto intrude

2 6.8

To gradually move into someone's personal space, rights or privacy

describes unwanted entry but usually as a single action not gradual

P

to poke one's nose into

vsto intrude

• Informal

1 7.3

To try to take part in other people's business without being asked

focuses on entering places or conversations, not only meddling affairs

S

to stick one's nose into

vsto intrude

• UK

1 7.9

To get involved in other people's business without being asked

covers physical or conversational entry, not only personal affairs

O

to obtrude

vsto intrude

1 9.1

Push yourself into a place or conversation when people do not want you

is the general idea of entering where one is not wanted

P

to poke into

vsto intrude

• Informal

1 5.2

To go into a place for a short time to look around

is broader, including longer or purposefully unwelcome entries

O

to obtrude upon

vsto intrude

8.7

To force yourself into someone's space or attention without being invited

covers entering unwanted places but without stressing forcefulness

C

to chisel in

vsto intrude

• Informal

7.7

Interrupt someone who is speaking by joining their conversation without waiting

covers entering unwanted situations generally, not only talk

I

to irrupt

vsto intrude

9.4

Suddenly appear or enter with force

can be the same but also includes quiet or subtle unwanted entries

I

to interlope

vsto intrude

• Archaic

9.9

To enter or take part in something where you are not allowed, often selling without a license

is broader, covering any unwanted entry not only illegal encroachment

Phrasal Verbs

I

to intrude on

22 4.6

To go into someone's space or life without permission

How Intrusive

to break in

73 3.9

to barge in

• Informal

59 5.5

to intrude

105 4.4

to enter

∞ 1.0

to pop in

• Informal

25 3.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology