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

Demonstrators unfurled banners and shouted slogans, but Harris turned the interruptions into an opportunity to reinforce her commitment to democracy. —Nik Popli/charlotte, N.c., TIME, 3 Nov. 2024

The company has also filed motions with the Bankruptcy Court to continue its customer programs without interruption. —David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024

Consider this: Garbage collection in your neighborhood is dependable, with a truck arriving every week for pickup with no interruptions. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 31 Oct. 2024

Thanks to those interruptions, an observer peering through the moving slits would perceive animation. —Charlotte Hu, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1