infest

IPA/ɪnˈfest/
KK[ˌɪnfˈɛst]IPA/ɪnˈfest/

infest — verb

  • infestpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • infestshe / she / it
  • infestedpast simple
  • infesting-ing form

1. When insects, rats, or similar unwanted creatures fill a place in huge numbers,

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

When insects, rats, or similar unwanted creatures fill a place in huge numbers, often bringing disease or damaging property.

例句

The old hotel was infested with bedbugs, so Baraka checked out immediately.

passive: be infested with + pest

Rats had infested the grain store, ruining half the year's harvest.

同義詞
  • overrun

    broader — weeds or armies can overrun a place; lacks infest's link to disease

  • swarm

    emphasises dense movement; bees swarm but do not necessarily infest

  • plague

    stronger, implies persistent torment over a long period

反義詞
  • clear

    remove pests from a place entirely

文法句型

infest + [place]

be infested with + [pest]

用法筆記

Frequently passive: 'be infested with [pest]'. The subject is typically a building, crop, or enclosed space. Distinguish from sense 2 (digital) and sense 3 (people/things).

常見錯誤

❌There were many rats infesting in the barn.
✅Rats were infesting the barn.
💡'infest' is transitive; never use 'infest in'.

2. When harmful software such as viruses or spyware gets into a computer or network

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

When harmful software such as viruses or spyware gets into a computer or network and spreads through it.

例句

Emre's laptop was infested with spyware after he downloaded a free game from an unknown site.

passive: be infested with + malware type

A single infected attachment can infest an entire company network within hours.

active: [malware vector] + infest + [network]

同義詞
  • infect

    the standard term for computer viruses; 'infest' emphasises the scale and number of threats

  • compromise

    formal cybersecurity term; lacks the vividness of 'infest'

反義詞
  • clean

    remove all malware from a system

文法句型

infest + [computer/network]

be infested with + [virus/malware]

用法筆記

Often passive. Subject is a computer, phone, server, or network. This sense extends the pest metaphor to digital threats — the virus is the 'pest' and the device is the 'place'.

常見錯誤

❌My laptop infested a virus after I clicked the link.
✅My laptop was infested with a virus after I clicked the link.
💡the virus infests the computer; the computer does not infest the virus.

3. When so many people or unwanted things fill a place that it becomes unpleasant o

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

When so many people or unwanted things fill a place that it becomes unpleasant or hard to enjoy — used when the speaker finds them annoying.

例句

By noon, coach tours infested the small beach, leaving no room for anyone to sit.

figurative: people as unwanted 'pests'

Trang complained that junk mail infested her inbox every single morning.

同義詞
  • overrun

    more neutral; an army can overrun a city, but 'infest' carries stronger annoyance

  • flood

    emphasises volume and speed; 'infest' adds the idea of irritation

  • swamp

    implies being overwhelmed; 'infest' focuses on the unwanted presence itself

文法句型

infest + [place]

be infested with + [people/things]

用法筆記

A figurative extension of sense 1. Carries a negative, often humorous or irritated tone. The subject is usually a place that feels crowded or spoiled by the presence of the people or things.