intermission

[ in-ter-mish-uhn ]

noun

1. a short interval between the acts of a play or parts of a public performance, usually a period of approximately 10 or 15 minutes, allowing the performers and audience a rest.
2. a period during which action temporarily ceases; an interval between periods of action or activity:

   They studied for hours without an intermission.

3. the act or fact of intermitting; state of being intermitted:

   to work without intermission.

intermission

/ ˌɪntəˈmɪʃən /

noun

1. an interval, as between parts of a film
2. a period between events or activities; pause
3. the act of intermitting or the state of being intermitted

Derived Forms

• ˌinterˈmissive, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of intermission¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin intermissiōn- (stem of intermissiō ) interruption, equivalent to intermiss ( us ) (past participle of intermittere to intermit ) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of intermission¹

C16: from Latin intermissiō, from intermittere to leave off, intermit

Example Sentences

Allow me a brief intermission here to complain about how frustrating that is.

From Washington Post

Without a single driving action, live audience, or intermission, he doesn’t think of “I Hate It Here” as a play.

From Washington Blade

Five minutes after intermission, Aaronson scored his first international goal in his second appearance.

From Washington Post

TWC’s concert is one hour with no intermission and features members of The Washington Chorus with soloists, guest “Side by Side” high school chorus from Duke Ellington School of the Arts, bells, and more.

From Washington Blade

Outreach efforts such as the pop-up truck are crucial to maintaining a place for the arts in our much-abused public consciousness through this extended intermission.

From Washington Post

He promptly explained the situation, breaking early for intermission.

From The Daily Beast

After a long intermission, they have once again become true detectives—storytellers in search of the truth.

From The Daily Beast

Like, if there was an intermission at dirty movies, so you could go get your Goobers—or Raisinets, for that matter.

From The Daily Beast

As a debate, this was a sideshow, 90 minutes of stilted silliness, an intermission interrupting the real deal.

From The Daily Beast

American Jews thought they had earned a kind of moral intermission that Portnoy seemed not to be respecting.

From The Daily Beast

A long, portable cage had been put together on the stage during the intermission, and within it the ten pacing beasts.

From Project Gutenberg

The bromides were then ordered, and taken without intermission for periods which will subsequently be detailed.

From Project Gutenberg

The burglar entered the room without noise, and the heavy breathing of the sleeper continued without intermission.

From Project Gutenberg

It might be expected to continue without intermission for two or three weeks, and would make a quick end of the sledding.

From Project Gutenberg

Before the exercises of the forenoon were concluded, she was summoned to see a visitor, and did not reappear before intermission.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• interruption
• interval
• lull