intercede

verb

in·​ter·​cede ˌin-tər-ˈsēd How to pronounce intercede (audio)
interceded; interceding

intransitive verb

: to intervene between parties with a view to reconciling differences : mediate
interceder noun

Did you know?

The Latin cedere means "to go", so "go between" is the most literal meaning of intercede. (The same -cede root can also be seen in such words as precede and secede.) If you've been blamed unfairly for something, a friend may intercede on your behalf with your coach or teacher. More often, it will be the coach or teacher who has to intercede in a student dispute. The intercession of foreign governments has sometimes prevented conflicts from becoming worse than they otherwise would have.

Choose the Right Synonym for intercede

interpose, interfere, intervene, mediate, intercede mean to come or go between.

interpose often implies no more than this.

interposed herself between him and the door

interfere implies hindering.

noise interfered with my concentration

intervene may imply an occurring in space or time between two things or a stepping in to stop a conflict.

quarreled until the manager intervened

mediate implies intervening between hostile factions.

mediated between the parties

intercede implies acting for an offender in begging mercy or forgiveness.

interceded on our behalf

Examples of intercede in a Sentence

Their argument probably would have become violent if I hadn't interceded. When the boss accused her of lying, several other employees interceded on her behalf.
Recent Examples on the Web Victims' families, politicians, gun control advocates and others have said in the months since the shootings that law enforcement missed several opportunities to intercede and remove guns from Card. CBS News, 7 Mar. 2024 In March 2015, the UAE joined the Arab military coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, that interceded in the Yemeni civil war. Nate Jones, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2024 Norway’s push to start deep-sea mining in its territorial waters has created a massive rift in the European Parliament as lawmakers debated the policy and whether to intercede. Peter Aitken, Fox News, 20 Jan. 2024 Tired must intercede in a less passive way — such as contacting the police, irrespective of Christy pressing charges. Amy Dickinson, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2024 Tired must intercede in a less passive way — such as by contacting the police, irrespective of Christy pressing charges. Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2024 Tired must intercede in a less passive way – such as contacting the police, irrespective of Christy pressing charges. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 11 Jan. 2024 After an Egyptian military air strike from a U.S.-made Apache helicopter accidentally injured an American tourist in 2015, Menendez appears to have interceded to protect the flow of U.S. aid. David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2023 Emma visits a priest and schedules a baptism in the last-ditch hope that maybe the Holy Spirit can intercede in whatever’s going on in her life. Phillip MacIak, The New Republic, 7 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intercede.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin intercedere, from inter- + cedere to go

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of intercede was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near intercede

Cite this Entry

“Intercede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intercede. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

intercede

verb
in·​ter·​cede ˌint-ər-ˈsēd How to pronounce intercede (audio)
interceded; interceding
1
: to act as a go-between for hostile parties
2
: to plead in behalf of another

More from Merriam-Webster on intercede

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