Intervening
/ˌɪntərˈviːnɪŋ/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo come between or to occur between points in time or space; to take action to become involved in a situation or dispute.
/ˌɪntərˈviːnɪŋ/
Taking action to become involved in a situation or dispute.
The police were intervening to stop the fight.
💡 Simply: Imagine two friends arguing. If you step in to help them stop fighting, you're intervening. It's like getting involved to try and fix a problem.
👶 For kids: When you stop something from happening or change what's happening, like when you help two kids who are arguing, you're intervening!
More Examples
The government decided not to intervene in the economic crisis.
The teacher is often intervening to stop students from misbehaving.
How It's Used
"The UN is often involved in intervening in international conflicts."
"The court is intervening to protect the rights of the injured party."
"Doctors may consider intervening if a patient's condition worsens."
Occurring or lying between; situated or coming between.
/ˌɪntərˈviːnɪŋ/
Occurring between other things or events; situated or lying between.
The intervening years saw great social changes.
💡 Simply: Imagine a road that comes between two houses; that road is intervening. It's anything that exists or happens between two other points.
👶 For kids: Like when there's a tree in the middle of your house and your neighbor's house, that tree is intervening!
More Examples
The intervening wall blocked our view of the parade.
The intervening river was difficult to cross.
How It's Used
"The intervening fields separate the two villages."
"There was a long intervening period between the two wars."
Synonyms
From Middle English *intervenen*, from Latin *intervenire* (“to come between”), from *inter-* (“between”) + *venire* (“to come”).
The word 'intervene' and its derivatives have been used since the 15th century to describe actions of stepping in or taking action to affect a situation.
Memory tip
Think of "inter-" (between) and "vene" (come). To intervene is to come between two things or people.