ENGLISH
REFERENCE

interfere

v.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˌɪnɝˈfɪɹ// UK //ˌɪntəfˈiə// in·ter·fere

v. to get involved in a situation where you are not wanted or needed. It often means stopping something from happening or making a process more difficult.

v. to intervene in a situation without invitation or necessity, typically causing an obstruction or hindrance. In a physical context, it refers to the combination of two or more waves to form a resultant wave of greater, lower, or the same amplitude.


SIMPLE

I wish my parents would stop trying to interfere in my life.

CONTEXTUAL

The heavy rain began to interfere with the radio signal, making the broadcast difficult to hear.

COMPLEX

While the diplomat claimed to be assisting the peace process, many local leaders felt his presence would only interfere with the delicate internal negotiations already underway.

Synonyms
Origin

From Old French entreferir, from entre- + ferir (“to hit, to strike”), itself from the Latin verb ferio.

Usage

The verb is intransitive and typically takes the preposition 'with' when referring to things or 'in' when referring to situations.

Pitfall

don't interfere my businessdon't interfere in my businessInterfere is intransitive; it requires a preposition like 'in' or 'with' before the object.

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