Library / English Dictionary

INTRUDE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Thrust oneself in as if by force

Example:

The colors don't intrude on the viewer

Synonyms:

intrude; obtrude

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "intrude" is one way to...):

bring down; impose; inflict; visit (impose something unpleasant)

Sentence frames:

Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

intrusive (tending to intrude (especially upon privacy))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Enter uninvited

Example:

She irrupted into our sitting room

Synonyms:

intrude; irrupt

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "intrude" is one way to...):

come in; enter; get in; get into; go in; go into; move into (to come or go into)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "intrude"):

break in (intrude on uninvited)

bother (intrude or enter uninvited)

barge in; crash; gate-crash (enter uninvited; informal)

move in on (make intrusive advances towards)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Also:

intrude on (to intrude upon, infringe, encroach on, violate)

Derivation:

intruder (someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission)

intrusion (entry to another's property without right or permission)

intrusive (tending to intrude (especially upon privacy))

Sense 3

Meaning:

Search or inquire in a meddlesome way

Example:

This guy is always nosing around the office

Synonyms:

horn in; intrude; nose; poke; pry

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Hypernyms (to "intrude" is one way to...):

look; search (search or seek)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 4

Meaning:

Enter unlawfully on someone's property

Example:

Don't trespass on my land!

Synonyms:

intrude; trespass

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "intrude" is one way to...):

breach; break; go against; infract; offend; transgress; violate (act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "intrude"):

break; break in (enter someone's (virtual or real) property in an unauthorized manner, usually with the intent to steal or commit a violent act)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

intruder (someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission)

intrusion (entry to another's property without right or permission)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Who can follow an animal which can traverse the sea of ice and inhabit caves and dens where no man would venture to intrude?

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

I wouldn’t have intruded, your Royal Highness, but I must have the money—or even a thousand on account would do.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They had too much sense to be desirable companions to the former; and by the latter they were considered with a jealous eye, as intruding on THEIR ground, and sharing the kindness which they wanted to monopolize.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

She must be allowed to be a favourer of matrimony, you know; and (since self will intrude) who can say that she may not have some flying visions of attending the next Lady Elliot, through Mrs Wallis's recommendation?

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

She had never been tormented by womanhood, and she had lived in a dreamland of Tennysonian poesy, dense even to the full significance of that delicate master's delicate allusions to the grossnesses that intrude upon the relations of queens and knights.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“I don’t think that I need intrude upon your time and patience any more.”

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I should never wish to intrude where I were not welcome.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

But self, though it would intrude, could not engross her.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

There is an excellent archway down yonder in case a too zealous policeman should intrude.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I should not have intruded it upon your attention had you not shown some incredulity the other day.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)