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intervene

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verb [intransitive] British English pronunciation: intervene /ˌɪntə(r)ˈviːn/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theyintervene
he/she/itintervenes
present participleintervening
past tenseintervened
past participleintervened
  1. 1
    to become involved in a situation in order to try to stop or change it

    The police had to intervene when protesters blocked traffic.

    intervene in:

    The prime minister has pledged not to intervene militarily in neighbouring countries.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  interveneThesaurus entry for this meaning of intervene
  3. 3
    to delay an event, or to make it difficult to do

    My brother was studying to be a church minister, but the Second World War intervened.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  interveneThesaurus entry for this meaning of intervene

This is the British English definition of intervene. View American English definition of intervene.

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