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View synonyms for interfere

interfere

[ in-ter-feer ]

verb (used without object)

, in·ter·fered, in·ter·fer·ing.
  1. 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.

  2. to take part in the affairs of others; meddle (often followed by with or in ):

    to interfere in another's life.

    Synonyms: interlope, encroach, intrude, pry

  3. (of things) to strike against each other, or one against another, so as to hamper or hinder action; come into physical collision.
  4. to interpose or intervene for a particular purpose.

    Synonyms: intercede

  5. to strike one foot or leg against another in moving, as a horse.
  6. Sports.
    1. to obstruct the action of an opposing player in a way barred by the rules.
    2. Football. to run interference for a teammate carrying the ball.
  7. Physics. to cause interference.
  8. to clash; come in collision; be in opposition:

    The claims of two nations may interfere.

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


verb phrase

  1. Chiefly British. to molest sexually.

interfere

/ ˌɪntəˈfɪə /

verb

  1. often foll by in to interpose, esp meddlesomely or unwarrantedly; intervene
  2. often foll by with to come between or in opposition; hinder; obstruct
  3. euphemistic.
    foll by with to assault sexually
  4. to strike one against the other, as a horse's legs
  5. physics to cause or produce interference
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • ˌinterˈferer, noun
  • ˌinterˈferingly, adverb
  • ˌinterˈfering, adjective
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Other Words From

  • inter·ferer noun
  • inter·fering·ly adverb
  • nonin·ter·fering adjective
  • nonin·ter·fering·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of interfere1

First recorded in 1520–30; inter- + -fere (from Latin ferīre “to strike”); modeled on Middle French s'entreferir
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Word History and Origins

Origin of interfere1

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

The weight can mimic touch, and the deep pressure can be beneficial for little ones who experience overstimulation linked to ADHD or autism, which might be interfering with their sleep.

“He must have staff members over there looking for ways to interfere with the District,” said Norton, who has often sparred with Lee over his attempts to set policy in the District.

Processors with just tens of qubits are already the size of server racks, so finding ways to squeeze thousands or even millions of them into a reasonable amount of space while preventing them from interfering with each other is an unsolved problem.

Finance professors bemoaning how the extreme volatility is interfering with the market’s “price discovery” process.

As those electron waves spread out, they interfered with each other.

It was as if it would interfere with the largest particular work of her life, which happened to be me.

However, it can interfere seriously with blood thinners and should never be taken with other antidepressant drugs.

Another issue is that alcohol is a diuretic and being dehydrated will certainly interfere with your speed and endurance.

These drugs interfere with the double helix zip-unzip-zip-again process of RNA and DNA replication.

And go easy on fiber, which in large amounts can interfere with ovulation.

He curved his hand round mine, and told me as long as I played right, his hand would not interfere with mine.

If it be a necessary, inevitable arrangement, I would not interfere with it for the world.

This automatic suitable bass device does not interfere with the normal use of the stop-keys of the pedal department by hand.

Nor will a court interfere because there have been irregularities in the proceedings, unless these were of a grave character.

He supported me consistently, permitting no one but himself to interfere with anything I thought it right to do.

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