tampering
tampering — noun
1. the act of secretly touching, moving, or changing something without permission,
the act of secretly touching, moving, or changing something without permission, especially in a way that may cause trouble or break the law
Police found signs of tampering around the warehouse door lock.
signs of tampering
The teacher reported tampering after answers appeared on locked exam papers.
Bank staff noticed tampering when the cash machine screen showed strange numbers.
João denied tampering with the bike lock outside the library.
- interference
broader and less strongly tied to secret physical changes
- meddling
often used for unwanted involvement, especially in other people's affairs
- alteration
focuses on the change itself and may sound more neutral
文法句型
signs of tampering
report tampering
tampering with the seal
用法筆記
Often used in warnings, inspections, or police reports about locks, files, meters, or sealed containers. It suggests secret interference rather than open damage that everyone can see immediately.
常見錯誤
2. the crime of changing evidence or pressuring a witness so that the truth is hidd
the crime of changing evidence or pressuring a witness so that the truth is hidden in court
The prosecutor added tampering charges after Lena deleted phone records.
tampering charges
Witness tampering became the main issue once Bilal received anonymous threats.
witness tampering
The senator denied tampering, but staff had already coached the witness.
Police arrested two men for tampering after cash reached the key witness.
- obstruction of justice
broader legal term that covers many ways of blocking a case
- witness intimidation
narrower because it focuses on threatening the witness rather than the whole offense
文法句型
witness tampering
tampering charges
charge of tampering
用法筆記
Used mainly in legal reporting. It can refer to changing physical evidence, hiding evidence, or pushing a witness to alter testimony.
常見錯誤
tampering — verb
- tamperingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- tamperings3rd person singular
- tamperinging-ing form
- tamperingedpast simple
1. to touch, move, or change something without permission, especially in a secret w
to touch, move, or change something without permission, especially in a secret way
Someone tampered with the taxi meter before the night shift began.
tamper with the meter
Theo was fired for tampering with customer files after work.
A cleaner accidentally saw two men tampering with the office lock.
The app stopped working after a user tampered with hidden settings.
- leave alone
to avoid touching or changing something
文法句型
tamper with the meter
tamper with customer files
tamper with hidden settings
用法筆記
Usually takes with + noun and often refers to locks, files, meters, or settings. Distinguish this from sense 2, where the emphasis is on the harm caused rather than the unauthorized interference itself.
常見錯誤
2. to change or handle something in a way that makes it weaker, broken, or unsafe t
to change or handle something in a way that makes it weaker, broken, or unsafe to use
A loose screw showed that someone had tampered with the elevator cable.
tamper with equipment so it becomes unsafe
The cook was blamed for tampering with the soup after guests got sick.
Engineers shut the bridge because vandals had tampered with the control box.
The alarm failed because a student had tampered with the smoke detector.
- sabotage
stronger and usually implies deliberate damage for a hostile purpose
- damage
broader and does not require secret interference
- contaminate
more specific when something is made unsafe by adding harmful material
- protect
to keep something safe from harm or interference
文法句型
tamper with the elevator cable
tamper with the control box
tamper with the smoke detector
用法筆記
Often used when the improper change causes damage, contamination, or danger. Distinguish it from sense 1, which can stop at secret interference even when no harmful result has been shown.
常見錯誤
3. to make risky tests or changes without enough knowledge, often just to see what
to make risky tests or changes without enough knowledge, often just to see what happens
Nila kept tampering with the drone battery to see if it flew faster.
tamper with something to test it
The boys tampered with homemade fireworks behind the river wall.
A forum post warned beginners not to tamper with lab chemicals.
Cole liked tampering with broken radios, even after the first shock.
- tinker
can be neutral or positive, while tamper here suggests dangerous foolishness
- experiment
more neutral and often more planned or scientific
文法句型
tamper with the battery
tamper with fireworks
tamper with chemicals
用法筆記
This sense emphasizes careless curiosity or experimenting rather than a plan to damage something. It is usually disapproving because the person does not fully understand the risks.
4. to try to influence someone or a decision by using secret pressure, bribery, or
to try to influence someone or a decision by using secret pressure, bribery, or threats
Investigators said the agent tampered with local officials before the vote.
tamper with officials before a decision
The rival coach tried to tamper with the referee through a sponsor.
Emails showed executives tampering with inspectors by offering weekend trips.
Party leaders were accused of tampering with committee members before the vote.
文法句型
tamper with officials
tamper with the referee
tamper with committee members
用法筆記
Usually appears in formal reports about attempts to sway officials, referees, inspectors, or other decision-makers. Unlike sense 5, the pressure is not specifically aimed at changing courtroom testimony.
常見錯誤
5. to threaten, bribe, or pressure a witness so that they change or avoid their tes
to threaten, bribe, or pressure a witness so that they change or avoid their testimony
Prosecutors say the gang tampered with a witness before the murder trial.
tamper with a witness
A jail call proved that someone had tampered with the only witness.
Bilal stayed firm after gang members tampered with him as a witness.
The judge warned both sides not to tamper with any witness.
- intimidate
focuses on frightening the witness and does not cover bribery
- pressure
broader and not limited to courtroom testimony
- coach
can suggest telling a witness exactly what to say rather than threatening them
文法句型
tamper with a witness
tamper with the only witness
not tamper with any witness
用法筆記
Used mainly in legal contexts and nearly always refers to a witness in a criminal case. Unlike sense 4, the pressure here is specifically meant to change, block, or shape testimony.