intervening
intervening — adjective
1. describing the time, events, or objects that fill the gap separating two other p
describing the time, events, or objects that fill the gap separating two other points, dates, or things
In the intervening years, Gabriel moved twice and started a bakery.
fixed phrase: in the intervening years
Police checked every intervening alley between the station and the river.
intervening + place noun between two locations
An intervening wall kept the children from seeing the neighbor's garden.
During the intervening weeks, Talia saved enough money for the train ticket.
Two intervening meetings delayed Omar's phone call to the design team.
- intervening years
- intervening period
- intervening weeks
- intervening wall
- intervening space
- intermediate
more formal and often used in technical or educational contexts
- in-between
more conversational and less common before formal nouns like 'period'
- separating
emphasizes the barrier or divide more than the time gap
Grammar Patterns
intervening + years/months/weeks
intervening + wall/space/object
Usage Note
Usually comes before a noun and often helps compare two points in time or place. In phrases like 'the intervening years', the focus is on what filled the gap rather than on either end point itself.
Common Mistakes
intervening — verb
1. to deliberately step into a process or problem so that you can change the result
to deliberately step into a process or problem so that you can change the result, usually to protect someone or limit damage
Doctors intervened quickly when Elise stopped breathing after the crash.
intervene quickly in an emergency
The principal is intervening before the online bullying spreads further.
intervene before harm grows worse
Social workers intervened to keep the twins in a safer home.
intervene to + protective action
Linh stepped back until the coach intervened and calmed both players.
Early treatment can stop the infection if nurses intervene in time.
- intervene quickly
- intervene early
- intervene in time
- intervene in a dispute
- intervene to protect
- stand aside
deliberately choose not to act
Grammar Patterns
intervene to + verb
intervene in + problem/process
intervene in time
Usage Note
This sense usually involves a person, group, or institution acting on purpose. It differs from sense 2 and sense 3 because the subject here chooses to step in, often to prevent harm or improve the outcome.
Common Mistakes
2. to lie or take place in the space or time that separates two places, dates, or e
to lie or take place in the space or time that separates two places, dates, or events
A public holiday intervened between the two exam dates that week.
intervene between two times
Several mountain ridges intervened between Nia's village and the coast.
intervene between two places
Only three days intervened between Tomas's interview and the final offer.
A narrow canal intervenes between the market and the old mosque.
- intervene between meetings
- intervene between villages
- intervene between dates
- days intervene
- mountains intervene
- come between
closest everyday paraphrase
- separate
often transitive, so it describes the result more directly
- lie between
more neutral and often used of place rather than time
- adjoin
describes two things touching with nothing in the middle
Grammar Patterns
intervene between A and B
days/months intervene between two events
Usage Note
The subject is usually a period of time, a physical barrier, or another event rather than a person. Distinguish it from sense 1, where an agent intentionally steps in to change what happens.
Common Mistakes
3. to come in unexpectedly and alter the progress of a plan, conversation, or seque
to come in unexpectedly and alter the progress of a plan, conversation, or sequence of events, often by causing delay or complication
A passport problem intervened and postponed Stephanie's move to Seoul.
unexpected problem intervenes
Other plans intervened, so Asher missed the weekend workshop.
set phrase: other plans intervened
A sudden storm intervened and kept the ferry at the dock.
Budget worries intervened before the museum could order the new lights.
- circumstances intervene
- other plans intervene
- a problem intervenes
- events intervene
- interrupt
more direct and often shorter in everyday use
- intrude
stronger and more clearly unwanted
- complicate
focuses on the added difficulty rather than the sudden arrival
- proceed
continue without outside interruption
Grammar Patterns
plans/events/circumstances intervene
something intervenes and + result
Usage Note
This sense is often used when outside circumstances take control of the sequence. The subject is normally an event, a practical problem, or another commitment, not a person acting on purpose.
Common Mistakes
4. to enter a legal case that other people have already started so that you can def
to enter a legal case that other people have already started so that you can defend your own claimed interest
The insurance company intervened after the lawsuit began against the factory.
legal third party enters an existing case
A neighborhood group intervened in the land case to protect beach access.
intervene in + legal case
When the mining permit was challenged, the tribal council intervened in court.
Tomas asked to intervene because the ruling could affect his family's farm.
- intervene in a case
- move to intervene
- intervene in court
- intervene in the lawsuit
- join the proceedings
plain-English paraphrase rather than a fixed legal term
- enter the case
simpler wording that keeps the same legal idea
- withdraw
leave a case or choose not to take part
Grammar Patterns
intervene in a case
move to intervene
intervene in court
Usage Note
This is a legal sense, not the everyday sense of stepping in to help. It usually refers to joining an existing case because the final ruling may affect your rights, property, or another protected interest.
Common Mistakes
5. to step into another country's internal conflict or decisions, usually with pres
to step into another country's internal conflict or decisions, usually with pressure, threats, or force, in order to make something happen or stop it
The army intervened after the neighboring government refused to close the border.
state or military intervention
Several powers were accused of intervening in the election with covert money.
intervene in + election
No country wanted to intervene militarily in the island's civil war.
intervene militarily in + conflict
The minister denied that his government had intervened in the island nation's election.
- intervene militarily
- intervene in an election
- intervene in a civil war
- foreign powers intervene
- stay neutral
avoid taking sides or stepping in
- withdraw
remove forces or influence after involvement
Grammar Patterns
intervene in a war
intervene in an election
intervene militarily
Usage Note
Used in political or military contexts when one state or outside power presses another. It is stronger and more politically charged than sense 1, which can describe helpful action in ordinary situations.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- interveneverbC1
- interventionnounC1
- intervenornounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
In this sense, 'intervene' means becoming involved because leaving the situation alone would probably lead to a worse result. 'Step in' is the everyday informal choice, especially for school, family, or workplace conflicts. 'Interfere' is often more negative: it suggests unwanted involvement or meddling, even if the speaker claims to be helping. 'Intercede' is narrower and more formal. It usually means speaking or acting on someone else's behalf, often to ask for mercy, fairness, or a second chance. In medical, legal, and policy contexts, 'intervene' is often the most precise word because it can describe planned action by doctors, teachers, courts, or governments. You step in to stop a quarrel, intercede for a friend, but intervene when the goal is to change the likely outcome of a process.
Etymology
Built from the verb 'intervene' plus the -ing ending. 'Intervene' came into English from Latin 'intervenire', literally 'come between', from 'inter-' meaning 'between' and 'venire' meaning 'come'. The participial form first described something that stood in the middle, and it also kept the verbal sense of stepping into events or conflicts that were already under way.