Intervention
/ˌɪntərˈvɛnʃən/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe act of becoming involved in a situation to change it or stop it.
/ˌɪntərˈvɛnʃən/
The act of intervening.
The company's intervention prevented a major financial crisis.
💡 Simply: Imagine your friend is about to make a bad choice, like eating all the cookies before dinner. An intervention is when someone steps in and says, "Hold on!" or tries to help them make a better decision. It's like a 'time-out' from a problem, with a goal of making things better.
👶 For kids: When someone helps fix a problem.
More Examples
The police intervention was necessary to restore order.
A doctor's early intervention saved the patient's life.
How It's Used
"The government's intervention in the economy aims to stabilize prices."
"Early medical intervention can improve patient outcomes."
"A social worker arranged an intervention to help the family."
"The UN is considering a military intervention to stop the conflict."
A medical procedure or treatment designed to improve a patient's condition.
/ˌɪntərˈvɛnʃən/
A treatment or procedure performed to cure a disease.
The doctor recommended early intervention to treat the infection.
💡 Simply: In medicine, an intervention is any step a doctor takes to help you feel better. It could be giving you medicine, doing surgery, or suggesting changes to your lifestyle. Basically, it's how they 'intervene' in your health to make you better.
👶 For kids: When a doctor does something to help make you healthy.
More Examples
Physical therapy is a crucial intervention for recovering from a stroke.
The new intervention shows promise in reducing side effects of chemotherapy.
How It's Used
"Surgical intervention is often required for severe injuries."
"Cognitive behavioral therapy is a common intervention for anxiety."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
From Latin *interventio* ('a coming between'), from *intervenire* ('to come between').
The word 'intervention' has been used in legal and political contexts since the 17th century to refer to the involvement of an outside party in a dispute or situation.
Memory tip
Think of a football play where the coach has an intervention to change the direction.
Word Origin
"to come between"