intercede

verb

in·​ter·​cede ˌin-tər-ˈsēd 

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.

Synonyms

• intermediate
• interpose
• intervene
• mediate

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

Facebook brought one of the biggest tech scandals of the 2010s Stateside by allowing a British political consulting firm to intercede in the 2016 presidential election. —Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 17 Jan. 2025

And from a purely tactical and operational standpoint, the faster warfare gets, the more disadvantages lie in slowing things down by requiring humans to intercede during combat. TO ERR IS HUMAN Of course, tactics and operations are not the only considerations in war. —Sebastian Elbaum, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2024

Trump interceded to prevent the auction of the property and alongside Argenbright helped fundraise on behalf of the late farmer’s wife. —Jasper Craven, Harper's Magazine, 23 July 2024

Retailers are continuing to limit the staff who are authorized to intercede in the event of a theft. —Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Latin intercedere, from inter- + cedere to go

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

intercede

verb

in·​ter·​cede ˌint-ər-ˈsēd 

interceded; interceding

1

: to act as a go-between for hostile parties

2

: to plead in behalf of another