interfere

verb

in·​ter·​fere ˌin-tər-ˈfir 

ˌin-tə-

interfered; interfering

intransitive verb

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

Synonyms

• butt in
• interlope
• intermeddle
• intrude
• meddle
• mess
• muck (about or around)
• nose
• obtrude
• poke
• pry
• snoop

Choose the Right Synonym for interfere

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 interfere in a Sentence

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

China, which has denied interfering in other countries’ internal affairs, now appears to be building a network of accounts across many platforms to put to use in November. —Steven Lee Myers, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2024

Make plans and execute your actions before someone steps in and interferes. —Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024

Former President Donald Trump and eight other defendants accused of illegally trying to interfere in the 2020 election in Georgia on Friday submitted a formal application to appeal a judge's ruling allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to remain on the case. —CBS News, 29 Mar. 2024

Last month, a federal judge in Minnesota affirmed a $5 million arbitration award against Lindell, siding with a software engineer who challenged data that Lindell said proves China interfered in the 2020 election in favor of President Joe Biden. —Soo Rin Kim, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2024

On Tuesday, however, Bortnikov accused the CIA and Britain’s MI6 intelligence agency of interfering in Afghanistan with the goal of creating instability on the southern border of CIS countries, including Tajikistan. —Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024

Fox News spoke to several sources involved with the defense in the case against Trump and 18 others charged with attempting to interfere in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. —Claudia Kelly-Bazan, Fox News, 13 Mar. 2024

Johnson and his staff in 2019 met with Ukrainian diplomat Andriy Telizhenko as the senator pursued the theory that Ukraine had interfered in the 2016 election. —Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2024

His social worker was present during the interview but did not interfere in the conversation. —Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enterferen, from Anglo-French (s')entreferir to strike one another, from entre- inter- + ferir to strike, from Latin ferire — more at bore

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing interfere

• interfere with

Kids 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

Legal Definition

interfere

intransitive verb

in·​ter·​fere

interfered; interfering

1

: to act in a way that impedes or obstructs others

2

: to enter into the concerns of others