interval

noun

ˈin-tər-vəl How to pronounce interval (audio)
Definition of intervalnext
1
as in interruption
a break in continuity there were intervals of thousands of years between the major ice ages

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) unable to find my way out of the maze, I cheated and squeezed through a convenient interval in the hedge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of interval Also, ibogaine’s prolongation of the heart’s QT intervals carries a real risk of fatal arrhythmia. — Michelle Lhooq, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026 The rationing program will force many in the capital of San Juan and its surrounding neighborhoods to go without without water for 48 hour intervals, according to Puerto Rico's Aqueduct and Sewer Authority. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 The Maya, for example, observed and calculated intervals between solar and lunar eclipses, building predictions and calendars around the pattern. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2026 The silent form is characterized by intervals of zero airflow, while regular obstructive sleep apnea still involves some partial airflow. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for interval
Recent Examples of Synonyms for interval
  1. interruption
  2. gap
  3. hiatus
  4. hole
  5. pause
Noun
  • Up to $20,000 travel cancellation and interruption insurance per trip and primary rental car insurance.
    — CNBC Select, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Even routine chores, cooking, folding laundry, become the engagement itself rather than an interruption to it.
    — Dr. Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of interruption
Noun
  • The gaps are especially consequential in Nizi, one of the most affected health zones in Ituri province, which accounts for about 90% of Congo’s Ebola cases and 80% of its deaths.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Fernandes has never been finished, but there’s a size gap here and Turner is dangerous offensively.
    — Brett Appley, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of gap
Noun
  • First game there since 2022 after a four-year renovation hiatus; Costner narrates the promos, 25+ Hall of Famers on hand, both teams in retro uniforms.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • After a four-year hiatus, Major League Baseball emerges from the cornfield and onto the diamond in Dyersville, Iowa.
    — Jesús Cano, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of hiatus
Noun
  • Place them behind the refrigerator and stove, under kitchen and bathroom sinks near pipe entry holes, and in the back corners of pantry shelves.
    — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 16 Aug. 2026
  • While the district took a series of cost-cutting steps — including freezing spending on supplies, hiring and most new contracts, as well as laying off employees — successive budget updates showed the financial hole continuing to deepen.
    — Chaewon Chung August 16, Sacbee.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of hole
Noun
  • This is lunch à la Provençale; expect a multi-course meal with pauses between courses (no, the service isn't slow).
    — Lanie Goodman, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
  • As a result, the governor has issued a variety of directives on data centers since June, including a pause on data center development and lawmakers in Texas are reacting.
    — Jack Fink, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of pause

Browse Nearby Words

intertwists
interval
intervals
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Interval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/interval. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on interval

Nglish: Translation of interval for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about interval

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