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 Israel-Gaza war Tensions are rising between the United States and Israel over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to invade Rafah. Abigail Hauslohner, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024 Sparkle Theater, in which the entire game is set, has been invaded by new villain Grape and henchman, the Sour Bunch. USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024 The whole tenor of the statement was intended to establish an affinity between Kate and any other parent, anywhere, whose prime of life had just been invaded and upended by the bitterest of shocks. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2024 Europe’s manufacturers have spent the best part of the past two years grappling with steep energy costs, which surged after Russia invaded Ukraine. Krystal Hur, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024 Through the months, birds nested upon the statue’s head, wasps invaded its body, and ants started digging through its interior. Zachary Small, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Prior to the most recent shutdown, Apple and Google removed Parler from their app stores and Amazon stopped hosting the site following the January 6 riot at the Capitol, when Parler users posted hundreds of videos of rioters invading the capitol. Makena Kelly, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2024 After 45 years of invading multiplexes, the franchise will also take over the small screen next year with the arrival of Noah Hawley’s long-in-the-works television Alien series. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2024 Early this month, three homes were invaded in as many days. Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 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 29 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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