encroach — to gradually advance beyond usual limits or intrude into someone's territory or rights
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to gradually advance beyond usual limits or intrude into someone's territory or rights
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪnˈkroʊtʃ/
Example Sentences
- My neighbor's garden gnomes keep encroaching on my lawn - they're staging a tiny invasion!
- Social media is encroaching on our real-life relationships.
- The jungle is slowly encroaching on the abandoned village.
encroach
VERB[/ɪnˈkroʊtʃ/]
to gradually advance beyond usual limits or intrude into someone's territory or rights
Breaking the wooden boundary, the expanding grey city began to encroach upon the green forest.
EN(into) + CROACH(hook) — throwing a heavy metal CROACH(hook) EN(into) the private garden, the greedy thief managed to encroach on the property.
Making a sudden approach toward the tent, the hungry bear decided to encroach upon the human territory.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old French 'encrochier' meaning 'to seize or hook', derived from 'en-' (into) combined with 'croc' (hook or claw). The word entered Middle English and evolved to mean gradually advancing or intruding into territory or rights.
Breakdown
en- (into) + croch (hook) + -er (verb suffix) = encroach (to hook into or seize gradually)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My neighbor's garden gnomes keep encroaching on my lawn - they're staging a tiny invasion!”
“Social media is encroaching on our real-life relationships.”
“The jungle is slowly encroaching on the abandoned village.”
“My cat thinks the new puppy is encroaching on his kingdom (also known as the couch).”
📚Related Words
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