interrupt
Americanverb (used with object)
-
interrupts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
interrupted,
past participle, past
-
interrupting
present participle
-
to cause or make a break in the continuity or uniformity of (a course, process, condition, etc.).
- Synonyms:
- intermit
- Antonyms:
- continue
-
to break off or cause to cease, as in the middle of something.
He interrupted his work to answer the bell.
- Antonyms:
- continue
-
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
verb (used without object)
-
interrupts,
present (3rd person singular)
-
interrupted,
past participle, past
-
interrupting
present participle
noun
verb
-
to break the continuity of (an action, event, etc) or hinder (a person) by intrusion
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(tr) to cease to perform (some action)
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(tr) to obstruct (a view)
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to prevent or disturb (a conversation, discussion, etc) by questions, interjections, or comment
noun
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
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interruptednessnoun
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reinterruptverb
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interruptibleadjective
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interruptiveadjective
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noninterruptibleadjective
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noninterruptiveadjective
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self-interruptingadjective
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uninterruptibleadjective
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uninterruptingadjective
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uninterruptiveadjective
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interruptedlyadverb
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interruptivelyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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interruptsimple
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interruptssimple
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have interruptedperfect
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has interruptedperfect
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am interruptingprogressive
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are interruptingprogressive
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is interruptingprogressive
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have been interruptingperfect progressive
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has been interruptingperfect progressive
Past
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interruptedsimple
-
had interruptedperfect
-
was interruptingprogressive
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were interruptingprogressive
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had been interruptingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing interrupt
Make a Break for It: Rupt
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"Raymond's Run"
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Lesson 1
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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:
My instinct told me to let it pass, but Monica acted to interrupt it and call it out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026
Given its massive size, it would interrupt the sight lines between the Lincoln Memorial, one of Washington's iconic landmarks, and Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place for hundreds of thousands of American servicemembers.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
While reading out some procedural steps in the case, Davis appeared to interrupt by raising his hand.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
There is plenty to protest in the plan: Trump is threatening to install gold accents throughout the buildings, and renderings show a new covered walkway that could interrupt the clean lines of Saarinen’s facade.
From Slate ● Aug. 18, 2026
“Most times, it’s enough to interrupt someone’s magic. I was hoping it would break the hex and give me time to pull you out.”
From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce
Their crunch interrupts the softness of the turkey, cheese and sauces; their salt seasons the sandwich; and their pucker sharpens the lemon mayo and smoky-sweet romesco.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
But a strict fealty to mimicking that relationship interrupts the conversation between modern and ancient sculpture.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Millions of people worldwide live with obstructive sleep apnea, a common disorder that repeatedly interrupts breathing during sleep.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 9, 2026
“In reality, life interrupts the timeline all the time,” said Melissa Caro, founder of My Retirement Network.
From MarketWatch ● May 14, 2026
Before he can answer, a loud, throaty chuckle interrupts.
From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse
Once the AI interrupted my bossiness, I was able to stop pushing my solution, and instead, ask the questions that gave my friend the space to find her own answers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026
Meanwhile, George’s professional concentration is interrupted when he is assigned a new partner.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
The interview was then interrupted by another siren.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
Love’s monologue is interrupted momentarily by beeps from his car and he says, “I’m in my new McLaren and it’s just real touch-and-go.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
“Are you sure—” But my next attempt at helping is interrupted by an impatient shout.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
The IMF now expects global inflation to rise to 4.7% this year from 4.1% in 2025, interrupting a descent that had been under way since 2024.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Scientists say human behavior, including the unchecked burning of fossil fuels, is warming the global climate and interrupting weather patterns.
From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026
Wednesday’s debate was acrimonious almost from the beginning, with the two interrupting each other throughout the night.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026
By interrupting the repeated nighttime reliving of trauma, the treatment allowed many of them to sleep more peacefully.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026
Without interrupting his song, the trumpeter kicks the paper cups away from his feet.
From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi
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.
