What does intertwine mean?
Intertwine means to twist, weave, or connect separate things so that they become closely joined. Its clearest image is one of strands or branches woven together, but the word is also widely used for the abstract connections between people, communities, stories, histories, and ideas. A writer may intertwine several themes in a novel, while two organizations may intertwine their interests or activities. The word carries a connotation of inseparability or mutual connection: the elements do not merely stand beside one another but become part of a combined pattern. It is more literary and deliberate than words such as mix or join, and often suggests a gradual, intricate process rather than a sudden combination. Intertwine is useful when describing relationships that are complicated, mutually dependent, or difficult to separate.
verbTo twist or weave together so that separate things become joined or intertwined. It can also be used intransitively to describe things becoming connected or entangled.
- To twist or weave two or more things together.
- To become joined, connected, or entangled with another thing.
"The ancient paths intertwine through the forest before reaching the river."
"The novelist intertwines the lives of three generations in a single family saga."
"As the vines intertwine, the old fence becomes almost impossible to distinguish from the surrounding greenery."
Intertwine describes the moment separate threads become one: a perfect word for relationships, histories, and ideas that cannot be cleanly pulled apart.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does intertwine come from?
Intertwine combines the Latin-derived prefix inter-, meaning “between” or “among,” with twine, an Old English word associated with cord and twisted strands. The compound meaning developed from the idea of twisting separate elements together into an intertwined whole. The related word entwine uses a different prefix but shares the same core meaning and root. Both words reflect the long English history of twine, which belongs to an inherited Germanic vocabulary for cords and woven material.
Related word forms
How intertwine is actually used
Intertwine is formal and literary in tone, though it is also used in journalism, academic writing, and careful descriptive prose. It commonly describes physical strands or branches, but it is also used figuratively for relationships, histories, themes, and ideas. It can function transitively, as in “intertwine the threads,” or intransitively, as in “the two stories intertwine.”
Easily confused with intertwine
Intertwine suggests that separate elements become tangled or interconnected, while interweave more often suggests weaving strands or materials together in a deliberate combination.