interrupt
to cause or make a break in the continuity or uniformity of (a course, process, condition, etc.).
to break off or cause to cease, as in the middle of something: He interrupted his work to answer the bell.
to stop (a person) in the midst of doing or saying something, especially by an interjected remark: May I interrupt you to comment on your last remark?
to cause a break or discontinuance; interfere with action or speech, especially by interjecting a remark: Please don't interrupt.
Computers. a hardware signal that breaks the flow of program execution and transfers control to a predetermined storage location so that another procedure can be followed or a new operation carried out.
Origin of interrupt
1synonym study For interrupt
Other words for interrupt
Opposites for interrupt
Other words from interrupt
- in·ter·rupt·ed·ly, adverb
- in·ter·rupt·ed·ness, noun
- in·ter·rupt·i·ble, adjective
- in·ter·rup·tive, adjective
- non·in·ter·rupt·i·ble, adjective
- non·in·ter·rup·tive, adjective
- re·in·ter·rupt, verb
- self-in·ter·rupt·ing, adjective
- un·in·ter·rupt·i·ble, adjective
- un·in·ter·rupt·ing, adjective
- un·in·ter·rup·tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use interrupt in a sentence
Many great rivers, in fact, flow with an almost interruptible declivity.
British Dictionary definitions for interrupt
/ (ˌɪntəˈrʌpt) /
to break the continuity of (an action, event, etc) or hinder (a person) by intrusion
(tr) to cease to perform (some action)
(tr) to obstruct (a view)
to prevent or disturb (a conversation, discussion, etc) by questions, interjections, or comment
the signal to initiate the stopping of the running of one computer program in order to run another, after which the running of the original program is usually continued
Origin of interrupt
1Derived forms of interrupt
- interruptible, adjective
- interruptive, adjective
- interruptively, adverb
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
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