intertwine

verb

in·​ter·​twine ˌin-tər-ˈtwīn How to pronounce intertwine (audio)
intertwined; intertwining; intertwines
Synonyms of intertwine

transitive verb

: to unite by twining one with another

intransitive verb

: to twine about one another
also : to become mutually involved
intertwinement
ˌin-tər-ˈtwīn-mənt How to pronounce intertwine (audio)
noun

Synonyms of intertwine

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of intertwine in a Sentence

He's always telling stories in which the present and the past intertwine. His fate is intertwined with hers.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Lively’s legal team said the law requires reimbursement for the defense of the litigation because the legal work on the various claims was intertwined. — Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 9 July 2026 The issue has become intertwined with the national debate over immigration and birthright citizenship. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 8 July 2026 Both events sought to intertwine the French capital and the biggest event in esports, through official channels and an epic performance that blended the cultures of both communities. — Mike Stubbs, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 What begins as a history play transforms into a sharp-eyed satire about the cost of assimilation in a society where money, power and white privilege remain stubbornly intertwined. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for intertwine

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of intertwine was in 1641

Rhymes for intertwine

See All Rhymes for intertwine

Browse Nearby Words

intertrude
intertwine
intertwiningly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intertwine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intertwine. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

intertwine

verb
in·​ter·​twine ˌint-ər-ˈtwīn How to pronounce intertwine (audio)
: to twine or cause to twine about one another : interlace

More from Merriam-Webster on intertwine

Nglish: Translation of intertwine for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All