interpose

verb

in·​ter·​pose ˌin-tər-ˈpōz How to pronounce interpose (audio)
interposed; interposing

transitive verb

1
a
: to place in an intervening position
b
: to put (oneself) between : intrude
2
: to put forth by way of interference or intervention
3
: to introduce or throw in between the parts of a conversation or argument

intransitive verb

1
: to be or come between
2
: to step in between parties at variance : intervene
3
interposer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for interpose

interpose, interfere, intervene, mediate, intercede mean to come or go between.

interpose often implies no more than this.

interposed herself between him and the door

interfere implies hindering.

noise interfered with my concentration

intervene may imply an occurring in space or time between two things or a stepping in to stop a conflict.

quarreled until the manager intervened

mediate implies intervening between hostile factions.

mediated between the parties

intercede implies acting for an offender in begging mercy or forgiveness.

interceded on our behalf

synonyms see in addition introduce

Examples of interpose in a Sentence

The new system has interposed a bureaucratic barrier between doctors and patients. He tried to interpose himself between the people who were fighting. Please allow me to interpose a brief observation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Other ads feature images of Harris and VP candidate Tim Walz interposed with post-apocalyptic scenes, and pictures of Walz and President Biden mashed up with images of prescription drugs spilling out of bottles. Emily Baker-White, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 In Côte d’Ivoire, a civil war that began in 2002 led to the partition of the country, with a large UN force interposed between the two sides. Jon Western, Foreign Affairs, 1 Nov. 2011 Such a note, seemingly interposed at random, echoes Whitman and DeFeo. David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023 Just this past weekend, a top campaign staffer reshared a video with an image of DeSantis, a Nazi symbol interposed over the Florida flag, and soldiers on the march. Adrienne Mahsa Varkiani, The New Republic, 25 July 2023 These use a proton-conducting polymer membrane as the electrolyte interposed between the fuel and oxidizer to help shuttle electric charge within the fuel cell. IEEE Spectrum, 14 June 2023 Biden was taking a harder line with Putin, but when the two met earlier in the summer and Zelensky tried to interpose on the summit with dire warnings about the war, he was ignored. New York Times, 16 Jan. 2022 With a mask interposed close to the healthy hamsters (the equivalent of a healthy person wearing a mask), one-third were. The Economist, 28 May 2020 One clever way to avoid the restrictions of being at home, isolated — Kate and Aidy are both being interposed onto different grocery store setting backdrops. Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Middle French interposer, from Latin interponere (perfect indicative interposui), from inter- + ponere to put — more at position

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of interpose was in 1582

Dictionary Entries Near interpose

Cite this Entry

“Interpose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interpose. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

interpose

verb
in·​ter·​pose ˌint-ər-ˈpōz How to pronounce interpose (audio)
interposed; interposing
1
a
: to place in an intervening position
2
: to introduce in between the parts of a conversation or argument
3
: to step in between opposing parties
interposer noun
interposition
-pə-ˈzish-ən
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on interpose

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