German word

eingreifen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaɪ̯ngʁaɪ̯fən/

Meaning

  • verbstep in

Example

Ich greife ein, wenn Kinder streiten.

I step in when children are fighting.

Illustration for eingreifen (step in)

More examples

Die Passanten mussten eingreifen, um zu helfen.

The passersby had to intervene to help.

Core concept

Someone places a hand into a developing conflict to alter what happens next.

Common phrases

  • bei Streitigkeiten eingreifen

    intervene in disputes

  • in das Geschehen eingreifen

    intervene in what is happening

  • aktiv eingreifen

    actively intervene

Similar words

einschreiten: Act to stop a dangerous or harmful situation and restore order.
einmischen: Intrude into others' affairs and push personal opinions on them.
dazwischengehen: Get between people in a quarrel or fight to stop it.
intervenieren: Become involved from outside to influence a problem or dispute.

Definition in German

aktiv in einen Prozess oder ein Geschehen eingreifen, um Einfluss auszuüben

Word origin

The verb is formed from ein, 'in' or 'into', and the inherited Germanic verb greifen, 'to grasp', extending the idea of grasping into a situation to intervention.

Usage tips

  • The common pattern is in etwas eingreifen with in governing the accusative, as in in die Diskussion eingreifen.

Other meanings

  • interfereverb

Opposites

  • abwartenwait and seeverb
  • sich heraushaltenkeep outverb

Related words

  • der Eingriffinterventionnoun
  • der Eingreiferintervenernoun

Word lists with this word