invadir
verbCEFR B2
What does “invadir” mean in English?
to invade, to enter by force
to invade, to enter by force (invadir un territorio — enter a place or situation by force, without permission)
Example sentences
Las tropas cruzaron la frontera e invadieron el territorio vecino sin una declaración formal de guerra.
The troops crossed the border and invaded the neighbouring territory without a formal declaration of war.
Una oleada de turistas invade cada agosto las pequeñas localidades costeras del sur del país.
A wave of tourists invades the small coastal towns of the south of the country every August.
Al escuchar las palabras del médico, una mezcla de alivio y miedo la invadió de repente.
On hearing the doctor's words, a mixture of relief and fear suddenly came over her.
How to use it
Invadir means 'to invade' — military or figurative. Structure: invadir + territory/space. At B2, both senses are important: the military sense (invadir un territorio — invade territory) and the figurative sense (la duda lo invadió — doubt invaded him; los turistas invaden la ciudad — tourists swarm the city). The figurative sense of emotions or things invading a person or place is very productive at B2. Don't confuse with ocupar (occupy — be physically present in a space) or conquistar (conquer — defeat and take over).
Common mistake
In figurative use, invadir is often used with emotions or sensations as subject: 'el pánico lo invadió' (panic came over him/overwhelmed him). This is a high-frequency B2 literary and narrative construction. The thing invading always takes the role of subject, the person affected is the direct object.