interruption

American  

[in-tuh-ruhp-shuhn] / ˌɪn təˈrʌp ʃən /

noun

1. an act or instance of interrupting.

2. the state of being interrupted. interrupted.

3. something that interrupts.

4. cessation; intermission.

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interruption British  

/ ˌɪntəˈrʌpʃən /

noun

1. something that interrupts, such as a comment, question, or action

2. an interval or intermission

3. the act of interrupting or the state of being interrupted

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Other Word Forms

• reinterruption noun

Etymology

Origin of interruption

1350–1400; Middle English interrupcio ( u ) n < Latin interruptiōn- (stem of interruptiō ). See interrupt, -ion

Example Sentences

Zelensky said Kyiv was taking advantage of the situation, but conceded to AFP that Ukrainian forces had also experienced interruptions due to the outages.

From Barron's

At a price level, a temporary interruption would likely trigger a sharp but short-lived spike, while a prolonged closure would be far more damaging.

From The Wall Street Journal

In workshops and design studios — places where people use their brains and their hands in equal measure — lunch is positioned not as an interruption.

From Salon

Might these brief audiovisual interruptions have an unexpected negative effect on our professional and personal lives?

From The Wall Street Journal

For this season and the previous FA Cup campaign, VAR has not been brought in until the fifth round, with many fans looking forward to a return to football without interruptions from technology.

From BBC

Related Words

• blackout
• breach
• delay
• disruption
• disturbance
• hiatus
• hitch
• intrusion
• layoff
• letup
• pause
• rupture
• stoppage
• suspension