interruption
Americannoun
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interruptions
plural
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an act or instance of interrupting.
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the state of being interrupted.
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something that interrupts.
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cessation; intermission.
noun
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something that interrupts, such as a comment, question, or action
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an interval or intermission
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the act of interrupting or the state of being interrupted
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of interruption
1350–1400; Middle English interrupcio ( u ) n < Latin interruptiōn- (stem of interruptiō ). See interrupt, -ion
Explanation
Like a loud noise cutting into a moment of quiet reflection, an interruption is when something temporarily stops or disrupts an activity, conversation, or process. The word interruption comes from the Latin prefix inter-, meaning "between, among," and the Latin root rupt, meaning "burst." So an interruption can be thought of as something that bursts into the middle of something that is ongoing. Some interruptions — like a sudden power outage — can be annoying, even jarring. But some interruptions may be welcome, like your friend bringing you a treat to give you a break in the middle of a long, grueling study session.
Vocabulary lists containing interruption
Make a Break for It: Rupt
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List 2
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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:
Announcement No. 10 was not among them; it has run without interruption since February 2025 and has no end date.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
The Germantown, Md., company has filed a motion in a Texas court to continue operating its business without interruption while the bankruptcy is ongoing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
"We're looking into reports that some players were unable to access games using discs as expected during the service interruption," Scott Van Vliet said in a statement.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Actors in the production lip-sync the actual audio, reproducing every hesitation, interruption and verbal tic.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
For Reynie, the interruption could not have come at a better moment.
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
"We can better focus on the lessons and lectures; there are no more interruptions due to calls," said Yousufzai.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
Comprehensive policies typically include coverage for trip interruptions, trip cancellations, lost or delayed baggage, medical emergencies and emergency evacuations.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
But after two years and many interruptions to her studies — namely performing gigs — she left to pursue a music full-time, but still led with uncertainty.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
Some have described the breaks as commercial interruptions to appease US broadcasters.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026
“Keep your interruptions to a minimum,” he says.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
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.
