Word
interfere
Phoneticsin·ter·fere, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪnɝˈfɪɹ/
UK/ˌɪntəfˈiə/
Definitions
01to meddle
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to get involved in a situation where you are not wanted or needed.
v. to intervene in a situation without invitation, typically causing an obstruction or annoyance.
日本語:干渉する※
“I wish my parents would stop trying to interfere in my private life.”
“The local government was accused of trying to interfere in the judicial process, sparking a debate about the separation of powers.”
Usage
Usually takes the preposition 'in' for situations or 'with' for processes and people.
Pitfall
He interfered my work.
He interfered with my work.
The verb 'interfere' is intransitive and requires the preposition 'with' when followed by an object.
02to obstruct or block
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to prevent something from happening or working the way it should.
v. to hinder or impede the progress or operation of something.
日本語:邪魔する※
“The loud music from the party began to interfere with my sleep.”
“The presence of large metal structures can interfere with radio signals, causing significant communication delays for the rescue team.”
Usage
Almost always followed by the preposition 'with'.
Antonyms
03physics of waves
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
v. when two waves (like light or sound) meet and change each other.
v. the interaction of two or more waves of the same frequency that results in a new wave pattern.
日本語:干渉する※
“The two sets of waves interfere to create a pattern of light and dark spots.”
“When two coherent light sources interfere, they produce a stable fringe pattern that can be used to measure extremely small distances.”
Synonyms
04to sexually abuse
C2 · Proficiency Law British English · Formal
v. a formal or polite way to say someone sexually abused a child.
v. to sexually molest or abuse a person, particularly a minor.
“The man was charged with interfering with a child under the age of ten.”
“The defendant faced multiple counts of interfering with minors while serving as a volunteer at the youth centre.”
Teaching tip
This is a common euphemism in British legal contexts; it is highly sensitive and should be used with extreme caution.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “interfere” in context.
Verb
01. interfere in a private matter
“I have no desire to interfere in a private matter that doesn't concern me.”
verb + prep + adj + noun
02. interfere with the signal
“The heavy storm began to interfere with the signal, causing the broadcast to cut out.”
verb + prep + noun
03. interfere with the smooth running
“We must ensure that the construction work does not interfere with the smooth running of the office.”
verb + prep + adj + noun
Adverb
04. directly interfere with the process
“The new regulations directly interfere with the process of hiring international talent.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
05. seriously interfere with sleep patterns
“Excessive screen time before bed can seriously interfere with sleep patterns.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
06. unwarrantedly interfere in internal affairs
“The ambassador was accused of trying to unwarrantedly interfere in internal affairs.”
adv + verb + prep + adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Researchers say the finding raises questions about whether using cannabis for stress relief might, over time, interfere with the very system that helps the body handle stress.” “Researchers warn betting on clinical trials could incentivize insider trading and interfere with drug development.” Etymology
From Old French entreferir, from entre- + ferir (“to hit, to strike”), itself from the Latin verb ferio.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/interfere
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0