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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Eventually, Goode and his crew, and even Cunningham, decided to intercede on Tonka’s behalf. Lane Brown, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2024 The Quai Branly did not grant her request for access until Beninese officials, who wanted to record the handover for posterity, interceded on her behalf. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2024 Trump’s offer, however ill-advised, was hardly the first U.S. attempt to intercede in Kashmir. Sumit Ganguly, Foreign Affairs, 30 July 2019 Bravo was already locking horns with one another, wanting to intercede on the waterboarding but told by Davis to stand down. Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 1 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for intercede 

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 30 Nov. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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