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Interfere: meaning, definitions and examples

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interfere

 

[ˌɪntərˈfɪər ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

in a situation

To intervene in a situation or process, often in a negative way, by becoming involved in something that is not one's concern.

Synonyms

intervene, intrude, meddle, obstruct.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
interfere

Used when someone gets involved in a situation where their involvement is not wanted or needed. Usually has a negative connotation.

  • He tends to interfere in other people's business
  • Please don't interfere with my work
intervene

Applied when someone steps in to help, settle a dispute, or prevent something from happening. Generally, this word has a neutral or positive connotation.

  • The teacher had to intervene to stop the fight
  • The government needs to intervene in the economic crisis
meddle

Describes unwanted or annoying involvement in someone else’s affairs. Often has a strongly negative connotation.

  • She warned him not to meddle in her personal matters
  • He has a tendency to meddle with others' decisions
intrude

Refers to entering a situation or place without permission, often causing inconvenience. Usually has a negative connotation.

  • I didn't mean to intrude on your privacy
  • She felt he was intruding on her personal space
obstruct

Used when someone or something is blocking progress or making it difficult for something to happen. Typically has a negative connotation.

  • The fallen tree obstructed the road
  • His actions are likely to obstruct the legal process

Examples of usage

  • He warned them not to interfere in the affairs of other countries.
  • She didn't want anyone to interfere with her plans.
  • The new manager decided to interfere with the current project, causing delays.
Context #2 | Verb

with electronic signals

To cause disruption or disturbance in the reception of electronic signals, such as radio or television.

Synonyms

disrupt, disturb, obstruct.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
interfere

Used when someone gets involved in a situation where their involvement is not wanted or needed, often leading to complications. Typically has a negative connotation.

  • Please don't interfere with my work.
  • Parents should not interfere too much in their children's lives.
disrupt

Used when an action causes a situation, process, or activity to be interrupted or thrown into disorder. This word may be neutral but often carries a slightly negative tone.

  • The loud noise disrupted our meeting.
  • Protesters aimed to disrupt the event.
disturb

Used when someone is causing someone else to stop what they are doing or to feel uncomfortable. Often carries a negative connotation.

  • Don't disturb him while he's sleeping.
  • She was disturbed by the strange noises outside.
obstruct

Used when something or someone is blocking a path, view, or progress deliberately. This word is generally negative.

  • The parked car obstructed the driveway.
  • Efforts to obstruct the investigation were punished.

Examples of usage

  • The storm interfered with the TV signal.
  • He couldn't hear the radio properly because something was interfering with the reception.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from the Latin 'interferre', meaning 'to strike between'.
  • It evolved in the Middle Ages, incorporating 'ferre', which means 'to carry or bring'.
  • The first recorded use in English was in the late 14th century, relating to interfering in disputes.

Psychology

  • Interference plays a significant role in memory recall, where new information can disrupt the retrieval of older memories.
  • There are two main types of interference in psychology: proactive interference, where old memories inhibit new ones, and retroactive interference, where new information hinders the recall of old memories.
  • Studies show that people often find it hard to concentrate when there are distractions, a form of real-world interference.

Communication

  • In conversation, to interfere is often seen negatively; it can be interpreted as ignoring or dismissing others' perspectives.
  • Active listening skills encourage participants to avoid interfering with one another's speaking time.
  • Professional environments value 'constructive interference', where input improves outcomes rather than disrupts them.

Legal

  • In legal contexts, interference can refer to actions that disrupt another's rights, such as interference in contracts.
  • Lawsuits may arise from claims of tortious interference, where one party unlawfully disrupts another's business relationship.
  • In family law, interference can refer to disputes over child custody when one parent is accused of meddling.

Technology

  • In electronics, interference can result from signals that disrupt communication between devices, like Wi-Fi interruptions.
  • Software can also experience interference from unnecessary background processes, affecting performance.
  • Engineers work to minimize interference in circuit design to ensure efficient operation of devices.

Translations

Translations of the word "interfere" in other languages:

🇵🇹 interferir

🇮🇳 हस्तक्षेप करना

🇩🇪 einmischen

🇮🇩 mengganggu

🇺🇦 втручатися

🇵🇱 ingerować

🇯🇵 干渉する (かんしょうする)

🇫🇷 interférer

🇪🇸 interferir

🇹🇷 müdahale etmek

🇰🇷 간섭하다

🇸🇦 تدخل

🇨🇿 zasahovat

🇸🇰 zasahovať

🇨🇳 干涉 (gānshè)

🇸🇮 vmešavati se

🇮🇸 trufla

🇰🇿 араласу

🇬🇪 ჩარევა

🇦🇿 qarışmaq

🇲🇽 interferir

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,054, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.