interruption
Americannoun
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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
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.
She works without interruption by marking her calendar as busy until about 10:30 a.m.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026
Earlier this month, the boss of one of the world's biggest fertiliser producers warned that the interruption to supplies could cost up to 10 billion meals a week globally and would hit poorest countries hardest.
From BBC • May 12, 2026
Whenever there is an interruption in blood donations and the stockpile dips, blood organizations are forced to declare an emergency.
From Slate • May 9, 2026
A sudden interruption in supply chains took months to repair, even after activity started to return to normal.
From Barron's • May 1, 2026
When Skarpi told a story, any interruption was like chewing a grain of sand in a mouthful of bread.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
