intermission
Americannoun
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intermissions
plural
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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.
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a period during which action temporarily ceases; an interval between periods of action or activity.
They studied for hours without an intermission.
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the act or fact of intermitting; state of being intermitted.
to work without intermission.
noun
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an interval, as between parts of a film
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a period between events or activities; pause
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the act of intermitting or the state of being intermitted
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of intermission
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin intermissiōn- (stem of intermissiō ) interruption, equivalent to intermiss ( us ) (past participle of intermittere to intermit ) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
The lengthy pause in the middle of a play or concert is called an intermission. If you're hungry, you might have time to grab a snack during the intermission. The word intermission has a Latin root, intermissionem, "a breaking off or interruption." Originally, it meant any temporary pause, but by the 1850s it was often used in reference to breaks between acts in theatrical performances. In the UK, this is known as an "interval," but in North America, theater and concert attendees wait until the intermission to use the restroom.
Vocabulary lists containing intermission
Reading: Literature - Drama - Introductory
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Reading: Literature - Drama - Middle School
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Blasted to Smithereens: Synonyms for "Break"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
As such, and with a gala dinner following, the program contained no intermission and tilted toward the less demanding.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
"Oil has pushed higher, Asian equities are softer, and suddenly the brief Friday reprieve in global fixed income looks more like an intermission than the end of the show."
From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026
He can’t remove the props, except during intermission because he’s on stage for most of the show.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
The red card came in the 64th minute with the U.S. protecting a 1-0 lead built on Balogun’s goal just before the intermission.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
During an intermission, some of the women attending the conference urged Gage not to let Truth address the convention.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
Mostly of generous length: The evening runs three hours, with two intermissions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026
“Gone With the Wind,” “The Ten Commandments” and “Lawrence of Arabia” all had intermissions to break up their nearly four-hour run times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2024
Its run time: intimidating, stretching well over three hours with two intermissions.
From Seattle Times ● May 7, 2024
New York City Ballet’s 2024-25 season will feature earlier curtain times, fewer intermissions and a tribute to the great American ballerina Maria Tallchief, the company announced on Monday.
From New York Times ● Apr. 15, 2024
The trio played jazz tunes during intermissions at the Olympic movie theater in Sequim in exchange for an opportunity to watch the films.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
