Meaning & use
intertwine
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Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
To twist or wind two or more things around each other so they are joined.
Grammar: With an object, someone does the twisting; without one, the things twist by themselves.
Patterns
- intertwine something with something
- intertwine around something
The vines intertwined around the old fence.
She intertwined the ribbons into a braid.
Their fingers intertwined as they walked.
verbintransitivefigurative
To be closely connected so that one cannot be understood or separated from the other.
Grammar: Commonly used in the passive-like form be intertwined with something.
Patterns
- be intertwined with something
- intertwine with something
The history of the town is intertwined with the railroad.
Their careers intertwined for decades.
Politics and religion are often deeply intertwined.
Word forms
| third person singular | intertwines |
|---|---|
| past tense | intertwined |
| past participle | intertwined |
| -ing form | intertwining |
Common combinations
- closely intertwined
- The two stories are closely intertwined.
- intertwined lives
- Their intertwined lives began in childhood.
- intertwined fingers
- They sat with intertwined fingers.
- inextricably intertwined
- Economy and politics are inextricably intertwined.
- intertwine with
- The plot intertwines with a family secret.
Synonyms and how they differ
- interweave
- Interweave is closest to weaving threads over and under, while intertwine is about twisting.
- entwine
- Entwine is a bit more poetic and often romantic.
- interlace
- Interlace suggests crossing strands in a pattern, like laces.
- link
- Link just means to connect, without the twisted-together image.
Opposites
Word family
- intertwined adjective
- closely connected or twisted together
- intertwinement noun
- the state of being intertwined (rare)
- twine verb
- to wind or twist around something
- entwine verb
- to twist together or around
Commonly confused: intertwine or intertwine and intermingle?
intertwine vs intertwine and intermingle
Intermingle means to mix together freely, while intertwine means to twist or link tightly.
Practice
The roots of the two old trees have ______ over many decades.
Choose one answer.
Intertwined fits roots that twist around each other. The other verbs are real words but are about stopping, catching or questioning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “intertwine”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.