tamper

/ˈtæm.pər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtæm.pɚ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtam-pər/ (ame, mw)

tamper — verb

  • tamperpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • tampers3rd person singular
  • tampering-ing form
  • tamperedpast simple

1. to handle or alter a piece of equipment, a document, or a system when you are no

1.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to handle or alter a piece of equipment, a document, or a system when you are not allowed to, often resulting in damage or malfunction

例句

Someone had tampered with the lock on the back door of the shop.

tamper with + physical object (lock/door)

The patient records in the hospital system had been tampered with.

passive: had been tampered with

同義詞
  • interfere with

    more general, can be accidental or intentional

  • fiddle with

    informal, often implies clumsy or unnecessary handling

  • meddle with

    implies unwelcome involvement in something you are not part of

反義詞
  • leave alone

    the opposite action — not touching something at all

  • secure

    to protect something from being tampered with

文法句型

tamper with + object (device/evidence/lock/files)

用法筆記

Tamper is almost always followed by the preposition 'with' in this sense. The passive construction ('had been tampered with') is especially common in formal writing and news reports.

常見錯誤

❌He tampered the computer.
✅He tampered with the computer.
💡tamper must be followed by 'with'; it cannot take a direct object.

2. to try to persuade, pressure, or pay a person connected with a court case — such

2.動詞不及物C1
釋義

to try to persuade, pressure, or pay a person connected with a court case — such as a witness or a juror — with the aim of changing what happens in court

例句

The lawyer was accused of trying to tamper with the main witness.

tamper with + witness (legal context)

Trang's cousin was arrested for tampering with evidence in the robbery case.

tampering with evidence (criminal charge)

同義詞
  • bribe

    narrower — focuses on offering money or gifts, not threats

  • intimidate

    narrower — focuses on threats, not persuasion or bribery

  • suborn

    formal legal term; specifically means to induce a witness to lie

文法句型

tamper with + witness/jury/evidence

用法筆記

This sense is restricted to legal or judicial contexts. The related noun phrase 'witness tampering' is a common formal legal term. Distinguish from sense 1 (INTERFERE WITH), which applies to objects and systems rather than people involved in legal proceedings.

常見錯誤

❌The mechanic tampered with the witness.
✅The mechanic tampered with the car's brakes.
💡sense 2 applies only to people in legal cases, not to objects.

tamper — noun