interruption

noun

in·​ter·​rup·​tion ˌin-tə-ˈrəp-shən 

plural interruptions

1

: an act of interrupting something or someone or the state of being interrupted: such as

a

: a stoppage or hindering of an activity for a time

Our conversation continued without interruption for over an hour.

b

: a break in the continuity of something

Internet service interruptions

2

: something that causes a stoppage or break in the continuity of something

a rude interruption

watching television without commercial interruptions

Synonyms

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

Examples of interruption in a Sentence

an interruption in cable service during the lightning storm

a brief interruption in the discussion while we all got coffee

Recent Examples on the Web

What is clear, however, is that Hamas has been able to direct military operations without interruption. —Daphné Richemond-Barak, Foreign Affairs, 6 June 2024

The first verse, without interruption, in the middle of an interview. —Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 4 June 2024

Despite the pandemic interruptions, China has reliably shipped since its opening up and has remained extremely competitive, even as trade and other geo-political tensions have ebbed and flowed. —Kenneth Dewoskin, Fortune, 15 May 2024

But no one knows if all those efforts in recognizing Biden’s critics will convince Morehouse’s faculty and students gathering this weekend to receive the President politely and with few interruptions. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 14 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1