encroach
verb
en·croach
| \ in-ËkrĆch
, en-\
, en-\
encroached;
encroaching;
encroaches
Definition of encroach
1
: to enter by gradual steps or by stealth into the possessions or rights of another
2
: to advance beyond the usual or proper limits
the gradually encroaching sea
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Other Words from encroach
encroacher
noun
encroachment
\ in-ËkrĆch-mÉnt
, en \
noun
, en \
noun
Examples of encroach in a Sentence
The suburbs encroach further into the rural areas each year.
each year the sea continues to encroach upon the island's beaches
Recent Examples on the Web
Powerful settlers have incessantly encroached their land, livelihoods, and lifestyles, pushing them further and further to the margins. — K A Shaji, Quartz India, "In a tribal corner of India, two worlds are clashing over an elephantâand his name," 28 Aug. 2019 The Mat-Su Borough and Kenai Peninsula Borough, where several other fires are also encroaching on residents, have both declared disaster emergencies and urged the governor to do the same. — Madeline Mcgee, Anchorage Daily News, "51 homes and 3 businesses lost in McKinley fire, Mat-Su officials say," 24 Aug. 2019 The tweet tapped into a powerful fear that underlies the ongoing political crisis -- that Beijing is encroaching on the unique freedoms of this semi-autonomous Chinese city. — Jessie Yeung, CNN, "Hong Kong isn't just battling on the streets: There is also a war on misinformation online," 11 Aug. 2019 Western wildfires have grown more lethal because of extreme drought and heat associated with climate change and by housing developments encroaching on the most fire-prone grasslands and brushy canyons. — Brady Mccombs, The Denver Post, "Trump administrationâs plan to slow Western wildfires would clear large strips of land," 19 July 2019 Before being locked in a vault and before the bombs and before the endless stacks of books, Bemis was a man who viewed the world as encroaching upon his precious time. — Mike Oliver | [email protected], al, "My Vinyl Countdown is all ears as it enters The Twighlight Zone," 17 Aug. 2019 About a decade ago, the family tried - in vain - to persuade residents to move away from the encroaching ocean. — Anchorage Daily News, "Extreme climate change has arrived in America. Here are the fastest-warming places.," 13 Aug. 2019 Japanâs Defense Ministry said Wednesdayâs missile launch had not encroached on its waters and did not immediately affect its security. — Washington Post, "North Korea fires two more ballistic missiles, the Southâs military says," 31 July 2019 But recently, as people like Barbara Brittingham of the New England Commission of Higher Education note, certain regions have witnessed this trend encroach on nonprofit colleges in noticeable ways. — Alia Wong, The Atlantic, "The End of an American College," 18 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'encroach.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for encroach
encroach
verb
English Language Learners Definition of encroach
: to gradually move or go into an area that is beyond the usual or desired limits
: to gradually take or begin to use or affect something that belongs to someone else or that someone else is using
See the full definition for encroach in the English Language Learners Dictionary
encroach
verb
en·croach
| \ in-ËkrĆch
\
\
encroached;
encroaching
Kids Definition of encroach
1
: to take over the rights or property of another little by little or in secret
The prince encroached on the king's authority.
2
: to go beyond the usual or proper limits
Cities have encroached upon wildlife habitats.
encroach
intransitive verb
en·croach
| \ in-ËkrĆch
\
\
Legal Definition of encroach
: to enter especially gradually or stealthily into the possessions or rights of another
encroaches on an adjoining property