invade

verb

in·vade | \ in-ˈvād

invaded; invading

Definition of invade

transitive verb

1 : to enter for conquest or plunder

2 : to encroach upon : infringe

3a : to spread over or into as if invading : permeate doubts invade his mind

b : to affect injuriously and progressively gangrene invades healthy tissue

Other Words from invade Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about invade

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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

The declaration would serve as a tacit promise that America won’t invade North Korea and would give Kim the political cover to end his nuclear program. — Alex Ward, Vox, "A North Korea nuclear deal looks more likely to happen now. Here’s why.," 6 Sep. 2018 The game at the London Stadium descended into chaos as fans invaded the pitch after Burnley's first goal. — SI.com, "West Ham Charged Over Fan Behaviour & Pitch Invasions During Burnley Defeat in March," 27 June 2018 Rain from the system will slowly invade the mid-Atlantic and Northeast through the weekend, with Monday, Memorial Day, looking to be the wettest day, AccuWeather said. — Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, "Tropical storm could drench Gulf Coast over Memorial Day weekend," 23 May 2018 Albany will invade McGuirk Stadium for a game in 2020. — BostonGlobe.com, "Foxborough makes cut as possible World Cup host," 16 Mar. 2018 But Strømdal, a 6-foot-4 Viking of a man with a plaited beard, doesn't think Putin will invade Sweden. — Alexander Smith, NBC News, "Sweden plans to build more bunkers amid fears of Russian aggression," 6 Mar. 2018 In Maui, the team discovered that after a bleaching, dangerous algae invade the coral in a very specific way that might be a target for a solution. — Lara Sorokanich, Popular Mechanics, "The Underwater Microscope That Can Survive on the Ocean Floor," 12 Sep. 2016 However, the president failed to meet with any Iraqi officials while in the country — despite the fact that the US invaded the country in 2003 and has had a continuous troop presence there ever since. — Alexia Underwood, Vox, "Trump’s secret trip to Iraq didn’t quite go as planned," 27 Dec. 2018 Syria then invaded Israel in 1967 and failed miserably, losing most of the Golan. — Elliot Kaufman, WSJ, "Trump’s Golan Strategy," 27 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'invade.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near invade

invade someone's privacy

invade someone's space

invaginate

Statistics for invade

Last Updated

2 May 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for invade

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

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More Definitions for invade

invade

verb

English Language Learners Definition of invade

: to enter (a place, such as a foreign country) in order to take control by military force

: to enter (a place) in large numbers

: to enter or be in (a place where you are not wanted)

See the full definition for invade in the English Language Learners Dictionary

invade

verb

in·vade | \ in-ˈvād

invaded; invading

Kids Definition of invade

1 : to enter by force to conquer or plunder

2 : to show lack of respect for She invaded their privacy.

invade

transitive verb

in·vade | \ in-ˈvād

invaded; invading

Medical Definition of invade

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

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invade

transitive verb

in·vade

invaded; invading

Legal Definition of invade

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