What does interfered mean?
Interfered is the past tense of interfere, a verb meaning to intrude on another person's business or to obstruct the activity, operation, or progress of something. It is especially common in the construction "interfered with," as in "the noise interfered with my concentration." The word can also describe someone who meddles in affairs that are not their own: "She refused to interfere in their argument." Its tone ranges from neutral to disapproving, with the latter sense often implying excessive curiosity or an unwelcome intrusion. In technical, scientific, and legal contexts, it may refer more neutrally to any interference with a system, process, or proceeding. The past form can also function as a participle, as in "a vandal had interfered with the equipment." Although interfered is grammatically a form of another verb rather than an independent dictionary headword, it is common in speech and writing and is readily recognized.
verbInterfered is the past tense of interfere: to intrude on or obstruct another person's activity, a process, or a system.
- To intrude on another person's activities or affairs.
- To obstruct or disrupt the operation or progress of something.
- To physically get in the way of an action, movement, or process.
"A sudden noise interfered with my concentration."
"He interfered in a discussion that did not concern him."
"The damaged cable interfered with the machine's normal operation."
Interfered comes from a Latin word meaning to strike or come between, originally describing a physical action before it acquired the modern sense of meddling.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does interfered come from?
Interfere derives from the Latin interferere, formed from inter-, meaning "between," and ferre, meaning "to carry, bear, or strike." The word originally referred to coming between or physically striking into something. It developed the modern sense of intruding or obstructing through the intermediary French interférer. Related English words such as confer, transfer, refer, and fertile preserve elements of the Latin root associated with carrying or bearing.
Related word forms
How interfered is actually used
This is the simple past tense and past participle of interfere. It is commonly followed by with for obstruction or interference and by in for intrusion into someone else's affairs. The use of the base form without a complement, as in "you interfere," sounds formal and is less common in everyday speech.
Easily confused with interfered
Interfered means to intrude or obstruct, whereas inferred means to reach a conclusion from evidence or reasoning.