# invade

/ˌɪnˈveɪd/ (US) · /ɪnvˈeɪd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. military conquest

verb · CEFR B2

to enter a country or region with an army in order to take control of it.

For teachers: to enter a territory by force with an armed military presence, typically for the purpose of occupation or conquest.

- The army planned to invade the neighbouring country at dawn.
- Historians still debate the strategic blunders that occurred when the coalition forces decided to invade the mountainous region during the height of winter.

Usage: This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object representing the place being entered.

### 2. disturbing privacy

verb · CEFR B2

to enter a place or a situation where you are not wanted, or to disturb someone's private life.

For teachers: to encroach upon or violate a person's private space, rights, or personal life in an unwelcome manner.

- I am sorry to invade your privacy, but I really need to talk to you.
- The celebrity complained that the paparazzi continued to invade her personal space despite her repeated requests for boundaries.

Usage: Commonly used with abstract nouns like 'privacy' or 'space'.

### 3. spreading in large numbers

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to enter or spread through a place in large numbers, like insects or a disease.

For teachers: to spread through or over a location in large, harmful, or intrusive numbers; often used for pests or biological agents.

- The garden was invaded by locusts that ate all the crops.
- The aggressive species of weed began to invade the local wetlands, threatening the delicate balance of the native ecosystem.

## Examples

- The army plans to invade the neighboring country at dawn.
- Tourists often invade the small coastal village during the summer months, making it difficult for locals to find parking.
- Historians continue to debate the strategic blunders that occurred when the empire decided to invade the northern territories without securing its own supply lines first.

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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.