intercede

verb

in·​ter·​cede ˌin-tər-ˈsēd 

interceded; interceding

intransitive verb

: to intervene between parties with a view to reconciling differences : mediate

interceder noun

Did you know?

The Latin cedere means "to go", so "go between" is the most literal meaning of intercede. (The same -cede root can also be seen in such words as precede and secede.) If you've been blamed unfairly for something, a friend may intercede on your behalf with your coach or teacher. More often, it will be the coach or teacher who has to intercede in a student dispute. The intercession of foreign governments has sometimes prevented conflicts from becoming worse than they otherwise would have.

Synonyms

• intervene
• interfere

Choose the Right Synonym for intercede

interpose, interfere, intervene, mediate, intercede mean to come or go between.

interpose often implies no more than this.

interposed herself between him and the door

interfere implies hindering.

noise interfered with my concentration

intervene may imply an occurring in space or time between two things or a stepping in to stop a conflict.

quarreled until the manager intervened

mediate implies intervening between hostile factions.

mediated between the parties

intercede implies acting for an offender in begging mercy or forgiveness.

interceded on our behalf

Examples of intercede in a Sentence

Their argument probably would have become violent if I hadn't interceded.

When the boss accused her of lying, several other employees interceded on her behalf.

Recent Examples on the Web

He is said to have interceded in healing the sick — both before and after his death in 1957. —Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 3 July 2025

Prince William and Kate Middleton have had to contend with divorce rumors, and then reconciliation rumors, and then reports that Middleton was trying to intercede in the relationship between her husband and Prince Harry. —Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 31 May 2025

The Golden Power legislation enables the Italian government to intercede or set conditions on foreign and domestic corporate takeovers in key sectors, including banking. —Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 23 May 2025

As far as disputes are concerned, the technology that has increasingly been used to intercede is blockchain. —Saro McKenna, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin intercedere, from inter- + cedere to go

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for intercede

• aniseed
• centipede
• cottonseed
• disagreed
• ganymede
• guaranteed
• overspeed
• pedigreed
• refereed
• supercede
• supersede
• underfeed

Kids Definition

intercede

verb

in·​ter·​cede ˌint-ər-ˈsēd 

interceded; interceding

1

: to act as a go-between for hostile parties

2

: to plead in behalf of another