interrupt

American  

[in-tuh-ruhpt, in-tuh-ruhpt] / ˌɪn təˈrʌpt, ˈɪn təˌrʌpt /

verb (used with object)

interrupts, present (3rd person singular) interrupted, past participle, past interrupting present participle

1. to cause or make a break in the continuity or uniformity of (a course, process, condition, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   intermit

   Antonyms:

   continue

2. to break off or cause to cease, as in the middle of something.

   He interrupted his work to answer the bell.

   Antonyms:

   continue

3. 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?

   Synonyms:

   intermit

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verb (used without object)

interrupts, present (3rd person singular) interrupted, past participle, past interrupting present participle

1. to cause a break or discontinuance; interfere with action or speech, especially by interjecting a remark.

   Please don't interrupt.

noun

1. 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.

interrupt British  

/ ˌɪntəˈrʌpt /

verb

1. to break the continuity of (an action, event, etc) or hinder (a person) by intrusion

2. (tr) to cease to perform (some action)

3. (tr) to obstruct (a view)

4. to prevent or disturb (a conversation, discussion, etc) by questions, interjections, or comment

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noun

1. 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

Synonym Usage

Interrupt, discontinue, suspend imply breaking off something temporarily or permanently. Interrupt may have either meaning: to interrupt a meeting. To discontinue is to stop or leave off, often permanently: to discontinue a building program. To suspend is to break off relations, operations, proceedings, privileges, etc., for a certain period of time, usually with the stipulation that they will be resumed at a stated time: to suspend operations during a strike.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interruptedness
  noun
• reinterrupt
  verb
• interruptible
  adjective
• interruptive
  adjective
• noninterruptible
  adjective
• noninterruptive
  adjective
• self-interrupting
  adjective
• uninterruptible
  adjective
• uninterrupting
  adjective
• uninterruptive
  adjective
• interruptedly
  adverb
• interruptively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• interrupting
  present
• interrupted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• interrupt
  simple
• interrupts
  simple
• have interrupted
  perfect
• has interrupted
  perfect
• am interrupting
  progressive
• are interrupting
  progressive
• is interrupting
  progressive
• have been interrupting
  perfect progressive
• has been interrupting
  perfect progressive

Past

• interrupted
  simple
• had interrupted
  perfect
• was interrupting
  progressive
• were interrupting
  progressive
• had been interrupting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will interrupt
  simple
• will have interrupted
  perfect
• will be interrupting
  progressive
• will have been interrupting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of interrupt

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English interrupten, from Latin interruptus, past participle of interrumpere “to break apart,” equivalent to inter- “between, among, together” + rup-, variant stem of rumpere “to burst” + -tus past participle suffix; see inter-, rupture

Explanation

To interrupt someone is to interfere in their activity, disrupt their conversation, or to disturb their peace and quiet. Imagine you're watching reruns of Jeopardy! and your mom interrupts you, threatening to turn off the TV unless you take the trash out. Then your brother interrupts your peace and quiet by shouting answers — wrong answers — at the TV. A special weather bulletin then interrupts your "regularly scheduled program" with a severe thunderstorm warning. And, to complete the job, lightning causes an interrupt (now used as a noun) in the power grid and your electricity goes off.

Example Sentences

“We know Ebola’s transmission routes, so we are also in a good position to interrupt its spread, without a lot of trouble,” said Dr. Diane Atwine, a top Ugandan health official.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

The higher the number, the less a team has been able to interrupt opposition spells of play.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026

They take into account only those bad enough to interrupt a passenger’s holiday and force them to seek medical attention.

From Slate • May 16, 2026

As a police truck approached and threatened to interrupt the clean-up effort, Maria stood in the street and blocked the way, hands on her hips in a pose of defiance.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

At this Chandresh moves to interrupt but Mme.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Related Words

• break
• break off
• cut off
• cut short
• delay
• discontinue
• disturb
• halt
• heckle
• hinder
• hold up
• impede
• prevent
• punctuate
• stop
• suspend