Meaning & use
intervening spaces
Last updated
Meaning
nounplural
The empty areas that lie between two or more things.
Grammar: Almost always plural; use 'intervening space' for one single gap.
Patterns
- the intervening spaces between something
- fill the intervening spaces
- leave intervening spaces
The artist left intervening spaces between the dots.
The intervening spaces between the buildings let in a lot of light.
Make sure there are no intervening spaces in the code.
Common combinations
- intervening spaces between
- The intervening spaces between the columns were painted white.
- leave intervening spaces
- You should leave intervening spaces so the text is easy to read.
- fill the intervening spaces
- They filled the intervening spaces with small stones.
Synonyms and how they differ
- gaps
- Gaps is more general and can be used for one or many; intervening spaces often suggests several gaps in a pattern.
- spaces
- Spaces alone is broader; intervening spaces specifically means the spaces in between things.
Word family
- intervene verb
- To come between two things or get involved.
- intervening adjective
- Coming between two things in time or place.
Commonly confused: intervening spaces or intervening?
intervening spaces vs intervening
Intervening is the adjective; intervening spaces is the noun phrase.
Practice
The designer left intervening spaces between the letters. What does 'intervening spaces' mean here?
Choose one answer.
Intervening spaces are the empty areas between things, here between the letters. The other options describe different problems.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “intervening spaces”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.