interfere
interfere Lexical Profile
interfere Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To become involved in a situation or matter without invitation or necessity, typically in a way that is annoying or unwelcome.
"She promised not to interfere in her adult children's career decisions."
To prevent a process or activity from continuing or being carried out properly; to act as an obstacle or hindrance.
"Loud construction noise outside the building began to interfere with the afternoon lecture."
To illegally obstruct or hinder an opposing player's movement during play, especially when that player does not have possession of the ball or puck.
"The referee called a penalty after the defender tried to interfere with the receiver downfield."
To interact so as to reinforce or cancel each other out when meeting (of light, sound, or other waves in physics).
"When two coherent light waves overlap, they interfere to create a pattern of bright and dark fringes."
Word Nuance & Usage
"Interfere in" typically means to meddle or intervene in someone else's affairs without invitation, whereas "interfere with" usually means to obstruct, hinder, or disrupt a process or activity.
• Rhymes for interfere
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 15th century from Old French s'entreferir, meaning "to strike each other," formed from entre- ("between") and ferir ("to strike," from Latin ferire). It originally referred in veterinary contexts to a horse knocking its fetlocks together while trotting before broadening to mean general collision or meddling.