Encroach
Channel: English Unpacked
Date: 2023-11-26

The word "encroach" is a verb that means to gradually intrude or advance upon someone's territory, rights, or personal space. It implies an act of trespassing or exceeding boundaries. It can also refer to something gradually taking over or occupying an area that it shouldn't.
Here are a few examples to help illustrate the meaning of "encroach":
1. Land Development: As cities expand, they often encroach upon nearby rural areas. For example, a housing development might encroach upon farmland, gradually taking over the agricultural space.
2. Personal Space: Imagine you are sitting alone on a park bench, and someone sits right next to you, even though there are plenty of other empty benches around. This person is encroaching on your personal space by invading your comfort zone.
3. Wildlife Habitats: Human activities can encroach upon the natural habitats of wildlife. For instance, deforestation for agriculture or urbanization can encroach upon the habitats of various animal species, threatening their survival.
4. Time Management: When one task starts to take up more and more of your time, it can encroach on your ability to complete other tasks. For example, if you spend too much time watching TV, it may encroach on your study time or work responsibilities.
5. Legal Rights: If a neighbor builds a fence that extends beyond their property line and onto your land, they are encroaching on your property rights. Similarly, if someone uses your copyrighted material without permission, they are encroaching on your intellectual property rights.
In all these examples, "encroach" is used to describe a gradual and unwanted intrusion or infringement upon something or someone's boundaries, whether physical, personal, or legal.