ENGLISH
REFERENCE

intervening

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˌɪntɝˈvinɪŋ// UK //ˌɪntəvˈiːnɪŋ// in·ter·ven·ing

adj. describing something that happens or exists between two events or dates. You use this to talk about the time that passes while you are waiting for something else to start.

adj. occurring or existing between two points in time or between two events. Often used to describe a period of transition or the time elapsed during a delay.


SIMPLE

Much has changed in the intervening years.

CONTEXTUAL

The two companies met in June, but the deal collapsed during the intervening months of negotiation.

COMPLEX

While the initial results were promising, the intervening variables introduced by the change in climate made it difficult to replicate the experiment with the same degree of accuracy.

Synonyms
Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun like 'years', 'months', or 'period'.

Pitfall

the intervened yearsthe intervening yearsLearners often use the past participle 'intervened', but the present participle 'intervening' is the standard form for describing time that passes between events.

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