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

Over this span of time, Vanellope has grown disenchanted with the same-ol', same-ol', and Ralph tries to fix her unhappiness by invading her racing video game. — Sam Machkovech, Ars Technica, "Wreck-It Ralph 2 review: Everything we wish Ready Player One had been," 21 Nov. 2018 After invading the Internet with cryptic anticipation, confusing fans over misheard lyrics, and reaching Spotify’s number one spot in only three days, the song is now officially a full-fledged meme. — Sara Delgado, Teen Vogue, "Ariana Grande's "Thank U, Next" Is Now a Hilarious Meme," 6 Nov. 2018 In Stratford, West London, supporters celebrated by invading the local IKEA. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, "England’s Unfamiliar Emotion: Hope," 10 July 2018 The next step is to give Trump credit for not invading Poland or trying to commit full-scale genocide against Jews and Roma in Eastern Europe. — Jeet Heer, The New Republic, "How much credit should we give Trump for not annexing Austria?," 20 June 2018 Trump alienated America’s closest allies with his stance on trade and by suggesting Russia be let back in the G-7, despite having been expelled for invading Ukraine and annexing Crimea. — latimes.com, "Today: The Road to Singapore," 11 June 2018 Russia was expelled from what at the time was the Group of 8 in 2014 after invading Ukraine and annexing Crimea. — Author: Jim Puzzanghera, Anchorage Daily News, "Trump leaves G-7 summit early after rattling allies with trade threats," 9 June 2018 Whoever invaded their privacy will be held accountable. — Madeleine Marr, miamiherald, "Khloe Kardashian's world is shattered. And of course, there's a Miami connection. | Miami Herald," 11 Apr. 2018 Just 12 to 18 percent of Georgia’s cotton crop had been harvested when Michael invaded Georgia on Oct. 10, said Richey Seaton, executive director of the Georgia Cotton Commission. — Jeff Martin, The Seattle Times, "Farmers fear it will take years to recover from storm strike," 30 Oct. 2018

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

21 Mar 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