verb · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌɪn.təˈpəʊz/
General-American:/ˌɪn.tɚˈpoʊz/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -əʊz
CMU ARPABET:IH2 N T ER0 P OW1 Z
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To insert something (or oneself) between other things.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
to interpose a screen between the eye and the light
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To offer (one's help or services).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To be inserted between parts or things; to come between.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
to insert between other elements
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
She interjected clever remarks
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: interject, come in, put in, throw in, inject
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: interrupt, disrupt, break up, cut off
7
verb
Meaning 7
introduce
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
God interposed death
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: introduce
8
verb
Meaning 8
be or come between
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
An interposing thicket blocked their way
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
verb
Meaning 9
get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Why did the U.S. not intervene earlier in WW II?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: intervene, step in, interfere
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: interact
Narrower terms: meddle, tamper, interlope
History
Etymology
From Middle French interposer, influenced by poser (“to place, put”), from Latin interpōnō, from inter (“between”) + pōnō (“to place, put”).
Across languages
Translations
52 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
մտցնել
(mtcʻnel)
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Armenian:
միջադրել
(miǰadrel)
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Armenian:
ներդնել
(nerdnel)
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Bulgarian:
вмъквам
(vmǎkvam)
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Dutch:
tussenzetten
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Finnish:
laittaa väliin
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
French:
interposer
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
French:
intercaler
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Greek:
παρεμβάλλω
(paremvállo)
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Northern Kurdish:
danîn nav
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Northern Kurdish:
xistin nav
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Ladino:
enkashar
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Māori:
kōkuhu
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Polish:
wstawiać
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Polish:
wstawić
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Portuguese:
interpor
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Russian:
вставля́ть
(vstavljátʹ)
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Russian:
помеща́ть
(pomeščátʹ)
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Spanish:
interponer
— to insert something (or oneself) between other things
Bulgarian:
прекъсвам
(prekǎsvam)
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Dutch:
tussenkomen
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Dutch:
in de rede vallen
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Finnish:
keskeyttää
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
French:
interrompre
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
French:
couper
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
French:
casser le fil
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Greek:
παρεμβαίνω
(paremvaíno)
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Māori:
kohiko
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Māori:
aruaru
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Polish:
wtrącać
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Polish:
wtrącić
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Russian:
прерыва́ть
(preryvátʹ)
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Russian:
перебива́ть
(perebivátʹ)
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Russian:
вме́шиваться
(vméšivatʹsja)
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Swedish:
inskjuta
— to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Finnish:
tulla väliin
— to be inserted between parts or things
Māori:
kuhi
— to be inserted between parts or things
Polish:
być wstawionym
— to be inserted between parts or things
Russian:
вклиниваться
(vklinivatʹsja)
— to be inserted between parts or things
Armenian:
միջամտել
(miǰamtel)
— to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
Bulgarian:
намесвам се
(namesvam se)
— to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
Dutch:
tussenbeide komen
— to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
Finnish:
keskeyttää
— to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
French:
s'interposer
— to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
French:
se mêler à
— to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
French:
se jeter dans la mêlée
— to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
French:
semer la merde
— to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
Polish:
przerywać
— to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
Polish:
przerwać
— to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
Spanish:
interponerse
— to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
Spanish:
meterse en
— to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
Spanish:
lanzarse a la pelea
— to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
