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Synonyms

interrupted

American  
[in-tuh-ruhp-tid] / ˌɪn təˈrʌp tɪd /

adjective

  1. broken off or discontinuous.

    Even one night of interrupted sleep can affect your mood.

  2. Botany. having an irregular or discontinuous arrangement, as of leaflets along a stem.

interrupted British  
/ ˌɪntəˈrʌptɪd /

adjective

  1. broken, discontinued, or hindered

  2. (of plant organs, esp leaves) not evenly spaced along an axis

  3. Also: deceptive.  music (of a cadence) progressing from the dominant chord to any other, such as the subdominant or submediant

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • interruptedly adverb
  • noninterrupted adjective
  • noninterruptedly adverb
  • noninterruptedness noun
  • uninterrupted adjective
  • uninterruptedly adverb
  • uninterruptedness noun

Etymology

Origin of interrupted

First recorded in 1550–60; interrupt + -ed 2

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.

The network interrupted its usual Sunday night fare for a news special that scored solid ratings.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

That means the U.S. is impacted by disruptions in the Mideast that have interrupted the flow of oil.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

He famously interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Awards, saying Beyoncé should have won the prize for best female artist.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

At this moment communications with Earth will be interrupted: the four astronauts are expected to become the human beings who have traveled farthest from Earth, breaking the Apollo 13 record.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

“Are you sure—” But my next attempt at helping is interrupted by an impatient shout.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.