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

With some judicious excisions of aria sections, the opera ran 2 1/2 hours with one intermission.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 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

After intermission, New York made 11 3-pointers, 55% of their attempts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 11, 2026

LeBron James has 27 points and six assists but Austin Reaves has an off night and the Thunder prove too much after intermission.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2026

It’s so long it has an intermission, and we’ve made plans to stay the night.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline

“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

There were multiple intermissions, but those became part of the show as well, as there was no set time limit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 10, 2026

Its run time: intimidating, stretching well over three hours with two intermissions.

From Seattle Times ● May 7, 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

My sisters and I had watched the program every Saturday afternoon, our gasbag of a collie imposing frequent intermissions.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Related Words

• interruption
• interval
• lull