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

Other Word Forms

• intermissive 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

Back in L.A., we attended a magic show at Geffen Playhouse and concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall, where we joined private pre-concert dinners in a special room and went back at intermission for dessert.

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Pec halved the deficit for the Galaxy on a penalty kick less than 10 minutes before the intermission.

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In his penultimate appearance before the intermission, he didn’t make it out of the first inning and was charged with five runs, three of them earned.

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“We’re on a time-out, and without really determined focus and deliberate diplomacy, this will be a very long intermission while both sides regroup and think about the next round.”

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The production, which runs two hours, is performed without intermission.

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Related Words

• interruption 
• interval 
• lull