violating

/ˈvaɪ.ə.leɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈaɪəletɪŋ] /ˈvaɪ.ə.leɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈaɪəletɪŋ] /ˈvī-ə-ˌlāt How to pronounce violate (audio)/ (ame, mw)

violating — verb

  • violatingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • violatings3rd person singular
  • violatinging-ing form
  • violatingedpast simple

1. to fail to follow or respect a law, rule, agreement, or widely accepted standard

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to fail to follow or respect a law, rule, agreement, or widely accepted standard, often in a way that brings official consequences

例句

Eli violated the county's noise rules by playing drums past eleven at night.

violate + rules / regulations

The shipping firm was investigated for violating international trade sanctions on four continents.

violate + sanctions

同義詞
  • break

    more general and common; 'break a law' is interchangeable but less formal

  • disobey

    implies a direct refusal to follow a command or rule, often from a person in authority

  • infringe

    slightly more formal; often used for rights, patents, or copyright

反義詞
  • obey

    follow a rule or law as required

  • comply with

    formal; act in accordance with a rule or request

文法句型

violate + noun (law / rule / agreement / principle / right)

用法筆記

The object is always an abstract thing such as a law, rule, agreement, principle, or right — never a physical object. For breaking a physical object, use 'break' or 'damage'.

常見錯誤

❌The worker violated the glass window when he dropped the box.
✅The worker broke the glass window when he dropped the box.
💡'violate' is for rules and agreements, not physical objects.
❌The car violated the speed limit on the highway.
✅The car exceeded the speed limit on the highway.
💡'exceed' is the more natural collocation for speed limits.

2. to enter or disturb a space, situation, or personal boundary that is private, pr

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to enter or disturb a space, situation, or personal boundary that is private, protected, or sacred, typically without permission or welcome

例句

Ravindra felt that the journalists' drone flying above his garden violated his privacy.

violate + privacy

The protesters were removed after violating the secure perimeter around the courthouse.

violate + secure area / perimeter

同義詞
  • trespass on

    more literal; specifically about entering land or property without permission

  • intrude on

    softer; focuses on disturbing a situation or person's space

  • desecrate

    stronger; used for sacred or holy places and objects

反義詞
  • respect

    treat a place or person's privacy with proper consideration

文法句型

violate + noun (privacy / space / sanctuary / atmosphere)

用法筆記

Commonly used with nouns related to personal space, privacy, sanctity, or peace. Unlike sense 1 (BREAK A LAW OR RULE), this sense is about trespassing or disturbing something rather than breaking a written rule.

常見錯誤

❌The thieves violated the house and stole the television.
✅The thieves broke into the house and stole the television.
💡'violate' in this sense is for places of respect or sanctity, not for ordinary burglary.

3. to force someone into a sexual act without their consent, especially through phy

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to force someone into a sexual act without their consent, especially through physical violence or threats; used mainly in formal and legal writing

例句

The human rights report documented cases where soldiers violated detainees during the civil war.

formal / legal context

Ife testified that the senior officer had violated several recruits during the previous year.

legal testimony context

同義詞
  • rape

    the more direct and common term in everyday English

  • sexually assault

    broader legal term that covers various forms of sexual violence

文法句型

violate + person

be violated (by + agent)

用法筆記

This is a formal or legal term. In everyday conversation, 'rape' or 'sexually assault' are more direct and common. The passive form ('was violated') appears frequently in historical or journalistic writing.

常見錯誤

❌The suspect violated the victim in the park.
✅The suspect raped the victim in the park.
💡'raped' is the more direct and common word; 'violated' sounds formal or legal and may cause confusion with other senses of the word.

violating — adjective