intermission

noun

in·​ter·​mis·​sion ˌin-tər-ˈmi-shən 

1

: an interval between the parts of an entertainment (such as the acts of a play)

2

: the act of intermitting : the state of being intermitted

intermissionless adjective

Synonyms

• discontinuity
• gap
• hiatus
• hiccup
• hiccough
• interim
• interlude
• interregnum
• interruption
• interstice
• interval
• parenthesis

Examples of intermission in a Sentence

We'll return after a brief intermission.

an awkward intermission between speeches

Recent Examples on the Web

After trailing 10-9 at the end of the first quarter, the Aztecs took the lead for good at 16-13 on a 3-point jumper by Kaelyn Hamilton with 7 ¼ minutes to go to intermission. —Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025

Mizzou was able to pad its lead further with a 7-0 run out of intermission. —The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025

Archbishop Williams came out of the second intermission buzzing, though, and got the puck in a pinball-like scramble in front within the first two minutes. —Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 3 Mar. 2025

And then that propulsive lead-up to the movie’s two-minute drive to intermission. —Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English intermyssyown, from Latin intermission-, intermissio, from intermittere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for intermission

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition

Kids Definition

intermission

noun

in·​ter·​mis·​sion ˌint-ər-ˈmish-ən 

1

: pause entry 1 sense 1, interruption

work without intermission

2

: a pause or interval between the parts of an entertainment (as the acts of a play)

Medical Definition

intermission

noun

in·​ter·​mis·​sion ˌint-ər-ˈmish-ən 

: the space of time between two paroxysms of a disease compare arrest, cure entry 1 sense 1, remission