in·ter·fere
ˌin-tər-ˈfir 
ˌin-tə-
interfered; interfering
1
: to enter into or take a part in the concerns of others
2
: to interpose in a way that hinders or impedes : come into collision or be in opposition
3
: to strike one foot against the opposite foot or ankle in walking or running
—used especially of horses
4
: to act reciprocally so as to augment, diminish, or otherwise affect one another
—used of waves
interferer
noun
in·ter·fer·er
R ˌintə(r)ˈfirər,
−R -təˈfirə(r
plural -s
: one that interferes
Examples of interfere in a Sentence
Verb
I tried to offer advice without interfering.
a strong resentment of outsiders who attempted to interfere with their traditional ways of doing things
Recent Examples on the Web
ABC News, 18 June 2026
In an unprecedented moved in May, Lebanon filed a formal complaint against Iran at the United Nations Security Council, directly accusing Tehran of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations for interfering in its sovereign decisions and dragging the country into war.
—Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America undertake to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 18 June 2026
Eduardo Bolsonaro, a former congressman who has lived in Texas since early 2025, was sentenced Tuesday by Brazil’s Supreme Court to four years and two months in prison after being convicted of coercion tied to efforts to interfere in legal proceedings against his father.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for interfere
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Verb
Negrón also referred to the Justice Department and its Office of Government Ethics, the findings of an internal investigation led by the economic development agency against two government officials, who are accused of interfering in the process for an auction of a contract involving federal funds.
—ABC News, 18 June 2026
In an unprecedented moved in May, Lebanon filed a formal complaint against Iran at the United Nations Security Council, directly accusing Tehran of violating the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations for interfering in its sovereign decisions and dragging the country into war.
—Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America undertake to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 18 June 2026
Eduardo Bolsonaro, a former congressman who has lived in Texas since early 2025, was sentenced Tuesday by Brazil’s Supreme Court to four years and two months in prison after being convicted of coercion tied to efforts to interfere in legal proceedings against his father.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for interfere
Cite this Entry
“Interfere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interfere. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
interfere
verb
in·ter·fere
ˌint-ə(r)-ˈfi(ə)r
interfered; interfering
1
: to come in collision or be in opposition : clash
his arrival interfered with our plans
2
: to take part in the concerns of others
don't interfere with our negotiations
3
: to act on one another
interfering light waves
interferer
noun
Medical Definition
interfere
intransitive verb
in·ter·fere
ˌint-ə(r)-ˈfi(ə)r
interfered; interfering
1
: to strike one foot against the opposite foot or ankle in walking or running
—used especially of horses
2
: to act reciprocally so as to augment, diminish, or otherwise affect one another
—used of waves
3
: to be inconsistent with and disturb the performance of previously learned behavior
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