Legal Definitions - encroach

Definition: To gradually enter or intrude upon someone else's property, possessions, or rights without permission.

Example 1: The new housing development encroached on the wildlife preserve, destroying the natural habitat of many animals.

Example 2: The neighbor's tree branches encroached onto our property, blocking our sunlight and dropping leaves in our yard.

These examples illustrate how encroaching involves gradually taking over or intruding upon something that belongs to someone else. In the first example, the housing development slowly took over the land that was meant to be a wildlife preserve. In the second example, the neighbor's tree branches slowly extended onto the speaker's property, interfering with their enjoyment of their own yard.