interruption
Americannoun
-
interruptions
plural
-
an act or instance of interrupting.
-
the state of being interrupted.
-
something that interrupts.
-
cessation; intermission.
noun
-
something that interrupts, such as a comment, question, or action
-
an interval or intermission
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Week 5 Vocabulary
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
"I hope we will get electricity for 24 hours without interruption, as the plant is near my house."
From Barron's ● Oct. 7, 2026
A friendly cold call could be viewed as yet another interruption, and a demanding one.
From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2026
U.S. stocks snapped a four-session losing streak as an interruption to the torrid run in oil prices offset a reading of higher consumer inflation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
Microsoft on Monday published a “humanist” code of conduct to show its commitment to ensuring Microsoft’s models “will never resist human interruption, correction, or shutdown.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
It became something to look forward to, a pleasant interruption to the long hours of lab work, which held little interest for Claire.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
Barabak: Becerra chides Hilton for his continued interruptions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Japan is particularly vulnerable to those supply interruptions as it is heavily reliant on energy from the Middle East.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Back then, phone interruptions were mostly relegated to a few stray pings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
In the SynAIRgy trial, people who received AD109 experienced fewer interruptions in breathing, less oxygen deprivation, and better overall blood oxygen levels while they slept.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 1, 2026
"Then let us have no more interruptions with unspeakable acts. No barking Arf! either. Do you understand me, Mr. Knapp?"
From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
