interfere

[ in-ter-feer ]

/ ˌɪn tərˈfɪər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR interfere ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), in·ter·fered, in·ter·fer·ing.

to come into opposition, as one thing with another, especially with the effect of hampering action or procedure (often followed by with): Constant distractions interfere with work.

to take part in the affairs of others; meddle (often followed by with or in): to interfere in another's life.

(of things) to strike against each other, or one against another, so as to hamper or hinder action; come into physical collision.

to interpose or intervene for a particular purpose.

to strike one foot or leg against another in moving, as a horse.

Sports.

to obstruct the action of an opposing player in a way barred by the rules.
Football. to run interference for a teammate carrying the ball.

Physics. to cause interference.

to clash; come in collision; be in opposition: The claims of two nations may interfere.

Law. to claim earlier invention when several patent requests for the same invention are being filed.

Verb Phrases

interfere with, Chiefly British. to molest sexually.

Origin of interfere

1520–30; inter- + -fere < Latin ferīre to strike; modeled on Middle French s'entreferir

SYNONYMS FOR interfere

2 pry, intrude, encroach, interlope.

4 intercede.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR interfere ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM interfere

in·ter·fer·er, noun in·ter·fer·ing·ly, adverb non·in·ter·fer·ing, adjective non·in·ter·fer·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby interfere

interfacing, interfaith, interfascicular, interfascicular cambium, interfenestration, interfere, interference, interference drag, interference fit, interference microscope, interference pattern

Example sentences from the Web for interfering

Frias—who was arrested in 2013 for interfering with public duties and public intoxication—was not carrying a gun at the time.

Texas Gun Slingers Police the Police—With a Black Panthers Tactic |Brandy Zadrozny |January 2, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
And the plodding pace of the French justice system has a way of interfering with career plans, no matter what the ultimate ruling.

IMF Chief Lagarde Placed Under Formal Investigation in France |Tracy McNicoll |August 27, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
These drugs block the growth and spread of cancer by interfering with specific molecules involved in tumor growth.

How Big Pharma Holds Back in the War on Cancer |ProPublica |April 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Challenging the deal could be portrayed by Beijing as interfering in Chinese economic and trade freedoms.

Can the U.S. Stop China’s Korean Broadband Deal? |Josh Rogin |January 3, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

But Netanyahu defended the comments and said he had no intention of interfering in American politics.

Has Bibi Netanyahu’s Criticism of Obama’s Iran Policy Gone Too Far? |Dan Ephron |September 14, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
The father and the aunt circled about as if they were afraid of interfering with the girl.

Within the Tides |Joseph Conrad
Such scenes were so common that no one thought of interfering.

The Story of John G. Paton |James Paton
She was just a fascinating sleepy-head pouting at the morning for interfering with her dreams.

What Will People Say? |Rupert Hughes
To think that it was the ladies of the Rector's family who were interfering made Mrs. Dennistoun very wroth.

The Marriage of Elinor |Margaret Oliphant
I wonder if the children would think me interfering if I were to bring them a little milk and sugar as a present?

Mother Meg |Catharine Shaw

British Dictionary definitions for interfering

interfere

/ (ˌɪntəˈfɪə) /

verb (intr)

(often foll by in) to interpose, esp meddlesomely or unwarrantedly; intervene

(often foll by with) to come between or in opposition; hinder; obstruct

(foll by with) euphemistic to assault sexually

to strike one against the other, as a horse's legs

physics to cause or produce interference

Derived forms of interfere

interferer, noun interfering, adjective interferingly, adverb

Word Origin for interfere

C16: from Old French s'entreferir to collide, from entre- inter- + ferir to strike, from Latin ferīre

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

interfere

verb (used without object), in·ter·fered, in·ter·fer·ing.

Verb Phrases

Origin of interfere

SYNONYMS FOR interfere

OTHER WORDS FROM interfere

Words nearby interfere

Example sentences from the Web for interfering

British Dictionary definitions for interfering

verb (intr)

Derived forms of interfere

Word Origin for interfere

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

interfere

verb (used without object), in·ter·fered, in·ter·fer·ing.

Verb Phrases

Origin of interfere

SYNONYMS FOR interfere

OTHER WORDS FROM interfere

Words nearby interfere

Words related to interfering

Example sentences from the Web for interfering

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for interfering

verb (intr)

Derived forms of interfere

Word Origin for interfere

British Dictionary definitions for interfering