Word
intervene
Phoneticsin·ter·vene, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪntɝˈvin/
UK/ˌɪntəvˈiːn/
Definitions
01to get involved
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
v. to step into a situation or argument to help solve a problem or stop something bad from happening.
v. to intentionally become involved in a difficult situation in order to improve it or prevent it from worsening.
“The teacher had to intervene when the two students started shouting at each other.”
“The central bank decided to intervene in the currency markets to prevent a further collapse of the exchange rate.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'in'.
02time or events passing
C1 · Advanced Academic · Literary
v. to happen between two events or points in time.
v. to occur or exist between two events, periods, or points in time.
“Many years intervened between their first meeting and their eventual marriage.”
“In the decades that intervened between the two wars, the social fabric of the country underwent a radical transformation.”
Usage
Usually intransitive; the subject is typically the time or event that occurs between two points.
Synonyms
03to interrupt
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to say something while other people are talking.
v. to interrupt a conversation or discussion, often to clarify a point or offer a different perspective.
“I'm sorry to intervene, but I think you have the wrong facts.”
“The chairman intervened to remind the speakers that they were straying from the main agenda of the meeting.”
Synonyms
04legal involvement
C2 · Proficiency Law Technical · Formal
v. to join a legal case to protect your own rights, even if you were not part of it at the start.
v. to enter into a lawsuit as a third party for the protection of one's own interests.
“The insurance company sought to intervene in the case to protect its financial interests.”
“The court allowed the environmental group to intervene in the proceedings, recognizing their legitimate interest in the outcome of the land dispute.”
Usage
Typically used in civil litigation contexts.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “intervene” in context.
Verb
01. intervene in the conflict
“International organizations were called upon to intervene in the conflict before the situation worsened.”
verb + prep + noun
02. intervene on behalf of the workers
“The union leader intervened on behalf of the workers to negotiate better safety protocols.”
verb + prep + noun
03. intervene to prevent a disaster
“Emergency services intervened to prevent a disaster after the chemical leak was reported.”
verb + infinitive
Preposition
04. intervene between the parties
“A neutral mediator was appointed to intervene between the parties during the legal proceedings.”
prep + noun
Adverb
05. decisively intervene
“The central bank decided to decisively intervene in the currency markets to stabilize the exchange rate.”
adv + verb
06. intervene directly
“The government was reluctant to intervene directly in the private sector's affairs.”
verb + adv
07. personally intervene
“The CEO had to personally intervene to resolve the dispute between the two department heads.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“Previous requests from the Palestinian families to the Israeli military present at the site to intervene have not helped.” “Whilst it is welcome that the prime minister has intervened to review the policy, more now needs to be done to ensure the probation service can safely manage people in the community.” Etymology
Back-formation from intervention, and/or from Latin interveniō (“come between”, verb).
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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