# interfere

/ˌɪnɝˈfɪɹ/ (US) · /ˌɪntəfˈiə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/interfere
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to meddle

verb · CEFR B2

to get involved in a situation where you are not wanted or needed.

For teachers: to intervene in a situation without invitation, typically causing an obstruction or annoyance.

- 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.

### 2. to obstruct or block

verb · CEFR B2

to prevent something from happening or working the way it should.

For teachers: to hinder or impede the progress or operation of something.

- 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'.

### 3. physics of waves

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

when two waves (like light or sound) meet and change each other.

For teachers: the interaction of two or more waves of the same frequency that results in a new wave pattern.

- 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.

### 4. to sexually abuse

verb · CEFR C2 · British English · Formal

a formal or polite way to say someone sexually abused a child.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I wish my parents would stop trying to interfere in my life.
- The heavy rain began to interfere with the radio signal, making the broadcast difficult to hear.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.