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The history behind encroach is likely to hook you in. The word comes from the Middle English verb encrochen, which means "to get or seize." The Anglo-French predecessor of encrochen is encrocher, which was formed by combining the prefix en- ("in") with the noun croche ("hook"). Croche is also an ancestor of our word crochet; that word first referred to a crochet hook or to the needlework done with it. Encroach carries the meaning of "intrude," both in terms of privilege and property. The word can also hop over legal barriers to describe a general advancement beyond desirable or normal limits (such as a hurricane that encroaches on the mainland).
Examples of encroach in a Sentence
Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2025
The partnership was formed to address the invasive trees and shrubs encroaching on the natural grasslands in TNC's Folsom Point Preserve in Iowa, which is located just over 12 miles from Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025
Ideal for the coats-and-boots season fastly encroaching.
—Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Still, Kalshi has been encroaching on the sports betting operators in a broader sense.
—Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encroach
Cite this Entry
“Encroach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encroach. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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Legal Definition
encroach
intransitive verb
Anglo-French encrocher, probably alteration of acrocher to catch hold of, seize, usurp, from Old French, from a-, prefix stressing goal + croc hook
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