invade

verb

in·​vade in-ˈvād How to pronounce invade (audio)
invaded; invading

transitive verb

1
: to enter for conquest or plunder
2
: to encroach upon : infringe
3
a
: to spread over or into as if invading : permeate
doubts invade his mind
b
: to affect injuriously and progressively
gangrene invades healthy tissue
invader noun
Choose the Right Synonym for invade

trespass, encroach, infringe, invade mean to make inroads upon the property, territory, or rights of another.

trespass implies an unwarranted or unlawful intrusion.

hunters trespassing on farmland

encroach suggests gradual or stealthy entrance upon another's territory or usurpation of another's rights or possessions.

the encroaching settlers displacing the native peoples

infringe implies an encroachment clearly violating a right or prerogative.

infringing a copyright

invade implies a hostile and injurious entry into the territory or sphere of another.

accused of invading their privacy

Examples of invade in a Sentence

The troops invaded at dawn. When tourists invade, the town is a very different place. The cancer eventually invaded the brain. Weeds had invaded the garden. Bacteria invaded and caused an infection.
Recent Examples on the Web Common Pests and Plant Diseases Scale and mealybugs are common pests that invade pineapple plants. Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2024 The 2003 Oscars took place three days after the U.S. invaded Iraq, weeks after stars like Matt Damon, George Clooney, Jessica Lange and Helen Hunt signed a letter that urged President George W. Bush not to attack the country. Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024 The United States had invaded Iraq just three days before, and, until that morning, there was still the possibility that the Oscars wouldn’t go on. Sarah Bahr, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 The probe underscores how vital Starlink service has been to Ukraine’s war effort, providing the backbone of its digital communications on the battlefield since Russia invaded the country two years ago. Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 The Israeli army this morning reiterated its plans to invade Rafah, saying hostages and four Hamas battalions remain in the city. NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024 Ukraine applied to join the alliance seven months after Russia invaded the country, while Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Ukraine’s goal of joining NATO was a cause behind the invasion. Ty Roush, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Then Israel declared independence, Egypt and Syria invaded the territory, and another four hundred thousand Arabs were driven out. Shane Bauer, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024 Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 31,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed since Russia invaded two years ago. Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'invade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin invādere "to enter with hostile intent, assault, attack," from in- in- entry 2 + vādere "to advance, go (quickly or purposefully)" — more at wade entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of invade was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near invade

Cite this Entry

“Invade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invade. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

invade

verb
in·​vade in-ˈvād How to pronounce invade (audio)
invaded; invading
1
: to enter for conquest or plunder
2
: to disturb or intrude upon
invaded their privacy
3
: to spread over or into usually harmfully
bacteria invading tissue
invader noun

Medical Definition

invade

transitive verb
in·​vade in-ˈvād How to pronounce invade (audio)
invaded; invading
1
: to enter and spread within either normally (as in development) or abnormally (as in infection) often with harmful effects
protect the body from invading viruses
branches of a nerve invade the skin area
2
: to affect injuriously and progressively
gangrene invades healthy tissue
invader noun

Legal Definition

invade

transitive verb
in·​vade
invaded; invading
1
: to encroach upon : infringe
invading a constitutional right
2
: to make payments out of (a fund from which payments are not ordinarily made)
authorized the trustee to invade the principal for educational expenses

More from Merriam-Webster on invade

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