intermission

American  

[in-ter-mish-uhn] / ˌɪn tərˈmɪʃ ən /

noun

• intermissions
  plural

1. a short interval between the acts of a play or parts of a public performance, usually a period of approximately 10 or 15 minutes, allowing the performers and audience a rest.

2. a period during which action temporarily ceases; an interval between periods of action or activity.

   They studied for hours without an intermission.

3. the act or fact of intermitting; state of being intermitted.

   to work without intermission.

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intermission British  

/ ˌɪntəˈmɪʃən /

noun

1. an interval, as between parts of a film

2. a period between events or activities; pause

3. the act of intermitting or the state of being intermitted

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• intermissive
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• intermissions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of intermission

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin intermissiōn- (stem of intermissiō ) interruption, equivalent to intermiss ( us ) (past participle of intermittere to intermit ) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

The lengthy pause in the middle of a play or concert is called an intermission. If you're hungry, you might have time to grab a snack during the intermission. The word intermission has a Latin root, intermissionem, "a breaking off or interruption." Originally, it meant any temporary pause, but by the 1850s it was often used in reference to breaks between acts in theatrical performances. In the UK, this is known as an "interval," but in North America, theater and concert attendees wait until the intermission to use the restroom.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

intermission intermissions

The next night, “Gustavo’s Fiesta” involved an array of Latin musicians, with Dudamel and the orchestra appearing after intermission.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

I have never seen so many patrons leave a Shakespeare in the Park production at intermission.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

The 1750s were a slow decade resembling a theatrical intermission.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

But he never wrote it, and during intermission the audience is polled to see whether Mr. Lynn’s prologue should be performed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

That the standing-here-watching part was temporary, an intermission before the bright light and the life- flashing-before-me business that would transport me to wherever I’m going next.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman

There were built-in intermissions, during which advertisements for fine Wu-Tang products played on large screens.

From Salon ● May 31, 2026

“Othello,” which runs 134 minutes with two intermissions, feels weighed down by overwrought dramatic gestures enacting Shakespeare’s tragic narrative.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 18, 2026

“Gone With the Wind,” “The Ten Commandments” and “Lawrence of Arabia” all had intermissions to break up their nearly four-hour run times.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2024

New York City Ballet’s 2024-25 season will feature earlier curtain times, fewer intermissions and a tribute to the great American ballerina Maria Tallchief, the company announced on Monday.

From New York Times ● Apr. 15, 2024

The trio played jazz tunes during intermissions at the Olympic movie theater in Sequim in exchange for an opportunity to watch the films.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

Related Words

• interruption
• interval
• lull