- often followed by on or upon: to intrude gradually, stealthily, or insidiously upon the rights, property, etc, of another
- to advance beyond the usual or proper limits
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
en•croach /ɛnˈkroʊtʃ/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + on/upon + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to intrude upon the property or rights of another, esp. gradually or secretly:Wiretapping encroaches on our right to privacy.
en•croach
(en krōch′),USA pronunciation v.i.
en•croach′er, n.
- to advance beyond proper, established, or usual limits;
make gradual inroads:A dictatorship of the majority is encroaching on the rights of the individual. - to trespass upon the property, domain, or rights of another, esp. stealthily or by gradual advances.
- Gmc; see crooked, crook
- Anglo-French encrocher, Old French encrochier to catch hold of, seize, equivalent. to en- en-1 + -crochier, verb, verbal derivative of croc hook
- Middle English encrochen 1275–1325
- 1. 2. See trespass.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
encroach /ɪnˈkrəʊtʃ/ vb (intransitive)
'encroach' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
entrench
- impinge
- infringe
- invade
- poach
- trample
- trench
- accroach
- encroachment
- enjambment
- interfere
- interlope
- nonencroachment
- purpresture
- toe
- trespass
- unencroaching
- usurp