intervene - Dictionary Definition : Vocabulary.com

From the Latin "intervenire," meaning “to come between,” the verb intervene means just that: to get involved, to jump in the middle of something, to interfere.

The verb intervene was first recorded around 1600. Since then there haven't been many interventions in its meaning or usage. You should probably intervene in a heated verbal fight between two of your friends before it escalates and gets physical. Especially if they're debating the United States’ habit of intervening in international conflicts.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: intervene

1	v	be placed or located between other things or extend between spaces and events
2	v	get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force

FULL DEFINITIONS OF: intervene

1

v be placed or located between other things or extend between spaces and events

“This interludes intervenes between the two movements”

“Eight days intervened”

Type of:: lie
be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

v occur between other event or between certain points of time

“the war intervened between the birth of her two children”

Type of:: come about, fall out, go on, hap, happen, occur, pass, pass off, take place
come to pass

2

v get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force

“Why did the U.S. not intervene earlier in WW II?”

Synonyms:: interfere, interpose, step in

Types:: meddle, tamper
intrude in other people's affairs or business; interfere unwantedly; interlope
encroach on the rights of others, as in trading without a proper license

Type of:: interact
act together or towards others or with others