interlude

noun

in·​ter·​lude ˈin-tər-ˌlüd How to pronounce interlude (audio)
1
: an intervening or interruptive period, space, or event : interval
2
: a musical composition inserted between the parts of a longer composition, a drama, or a religious service
3
: a usually short simple play or dramatic entertainment

Examples of interlude in a Sentence

She left for a brief interlude. He has resumed his acting career after a two-year interlude. They always met in the city for their romantic interludes. a drama with musical interludes
Recent Examples on the Web That’s not to say the film lacks quiet interludes, with the exchanges between Noa and the profoundly decent and compassionate Raku among the most poignant. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 May 2024 The best of the interludes was before the finale, with Gaga at her most melodramatic. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 May 2024 For some, the interlude resolves their greatest regrets; for others, the action is too cryptic to understand at first glance. Margaret Lyons, New York Times, 2 May 2024 The indie-rock tunes mix with orchestral interludes, synth drones, field recordings, found sounds from nature or the city streets, all full of raw emotion. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2024 The spoken interludes on the album bring in Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Linda Martell—the first Black woman to have sung at the Grand Ole Opry. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024 Better still, in one marvelous, wordless interlude, an ape tells a joke to a cavern full of other apes. Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024 The album really does flow, carefully developing themes and moods amid interludes that are charming and brief. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024 Additionally, Dolly Parton, Linda Martell and Willie Nelson will appear in interludes on the album’s conceptual KNTRY radio station. Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 28 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'interlude.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enterlude, from Medieval Latin interludium, from Latin inter- + ludus play — more at ludicrous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of interlude was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near interlude

Cite this Entry

“Interlude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interlude. Accessed 11 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

interlude

noun
in·​ter·​lude ˈint-ər-ˌlüd How to pronounce interlude (audio)
1
: a performance between the acts of a play
2
: an intervening period, space, or event : interval
3
: a musical composition inserted between the parts of a longer one, a drama, or a religious service

More from Merriam-Webster on interlude

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