- to put or place between or among other things
- to introduce (comments, questions, etc) into a speech or conversation; interject
- to exert or use power, influence, or action in order to alter or intervene in (a situation)
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
in•ter•pose /ˌɪntɚˈpoʊz/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -posed, -pos•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to place between; step in;
intervene:She interposed herself between her arguing brothers. - to put in (a remark, question, etc.) in the middle of a conversation or discussion:He interposed a wry observation.
in•ter•pose
(in′tər pōz′),USA pronunciation v., -posed, -pos•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
in′ter•pos′a•ble, adj.
in′ter•pos′al, n.
in′ter•pos′er, n.
in′ter•pos′ing•ly, adv.
v.t.
- to place between;
cause to intervene:to interpose an opaque body between a light and the eye. - to put (a barrier, obstacle, etc.) between or in the way of.
- to put in (a remark, question, etc.) in the midst of a conversation, discourse, or the like.
- to bring (influence, action, etc.) to bear between parties, or on behalf of a party or person.
v.i.
- to come between other things;
assume an intervening position or relation. - to step in between parties at variance;
mediate. - to put in or make a remark by way of interruption.
- Middle French interposer. See inter-, pose1
- 1590–1600
in′ter•pos′al, n.
in′ter•pos′er, n.
in′ter•pos′ing•ly, adv.
- 1. introduce, insert, insinuate, inject. 3. 7. interject. 6. intervene, intercede.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
interpose /ˌɪntəˈpəʊz/ vb
'interpose' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):