intermission

American  

[in-ter-mish-uhn] / ˌɪn tərˈmɪʃ ən /

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.

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intermission British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• intermissive adjective

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

Example Sentences

After being booed off the ice at the end of their last game, a 3-2 loss to Seattle on Wednesday, the Kings left to cheers for the first intermission.

From Los Angeles Times

Smart was assessed a technical foul for his action as walked off the court for intermission after exchanging words with an official.

From Los Angeles Times

“True, but it is nearly intermission, and if we go now we will be first in line for the biscuits on sale in the lobby.”

From Literature

“I wasn’t going to do a U.S. tour till the very last minute … this job is so awesome, thanks for making it awesome,” she says during a brief intermission.

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• interruption
• interval
• lull