What does intruded mean?
Intruded is the past tense of intrude, a verb meaning to enter a place, activity, or subject where one is unwelcome or not authorized. The word commonly describes a person, sound, object, or idea that crosses a boundary: a visitor enters a restricted area, a conversation moves to an uncomfortable topic, or noise disrupts someone's concentration. It can also refer to an action interfering with someone's privacy or personal space. In formal writing, intruded often implies that an intrusion has violated an expectation or rule. The term is related to a family of words including intrusion, intrusive, and intruder, and comes through Latin from a root associated with pushing or forcing one's way forward.
verbTo enter or become involved in a place, situation, or area where one is unwelcome or not permitted. It can also mean to interfere with someone's privacy or personal boundaries.
- To enter a place, situation, or activity without invitation or authorization.
- To interfere with someone's privacy, privacy, personal space, or conversation.
"The noise from the construction site intruded into their peaceful evening."
"A stranger intruded into the ceremony without anyone stopping him."
"Questions about his finances intruded on the privacy of the interview."
To intrude is to cross a boundary that someone has deliberately marked, whether physical, personal, or conversational.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does intruded come from?
The word comes from Latin intrudere, formed from in- and trudere, meaning to push or thrust. In English, intrude developed the sense of forcing one's way into a place, situation, or sphere where one is unwelcome. Its related forms include intrusion, intrusive, and extrude, the latter meaning to force material or an object out through an opening.
Related word forms
How intruded is actually used
The word is generally formal or neutral and often carries a negative connotation, implying that an unwelcome presence or action has violated a boundary.
Easily confused with intruded
To invade is to enter by force or take control, whereas to intrude is to enter where one is unwelcome or unauthorized.