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

Each short is unique in its conception, and yet, is bound by a common resilience, and a need to document the violent interruption of life and routine. —Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Dec. 2024

Starkey is disarming and immediately easy to talk to, stopping mid-conversation to explain the interruption of the chimes of his bird clock: a gift from a friend in honor of the one his grandmother used to have. —Leigh Nordstrom, WWD, 18 Dec. 2024

But the protest was rawer and darker than the production itself, which settled, after the interruption, into a more optimistic dénouement, and a nod toward a future generation that might get Ibsen’s characters out of their mess. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024

People aren't getting enough sleep, Apple Watch data shows The CDC says interruptions in your sleep and trouble falling asleep can be damaging to sleep health. —Mason Leib, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1