intermission

noun

in·​ter·​mis·​sion ˌin-tər-ˈmi-shən How to pronounce intermission (audio)
1
: an interval between the parts of an entertainment (such as the acts of a play)
2
: the act of intermitting : the state of being intermitted
intermissionless adjective

Examples of intermission in a Sentence

We'll return after a brief intermission. an awkward intermission between speeches
Recent Examples on the Web The uneasy calm — a 96-hour intermission before the war is expected to resume — began at 7 a.m. local time under the terms of an accord brokered between Israel and Hamas in recent days. Sarah Dadouch, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023 The Gaels built a six-point lead, but an 11-4 run gave the Aztecs a 34-33 lead at intermission. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Nov. 2023 It was helped when Roberts fumbled with under two minutes in the first half, gifting Arkansas a field goal and the lead going into the intermission. Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 Sep. 2023 The Escher String Quartet undertakes all six Bartók quartets in the course of three hours, with two intermissions, as part of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s winter festival (March 10). Condé Nast, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2023 Domestically, The Lyric, a theater in Fort Collins, Colo., showed the historical drama with an intermission until Oct. 26. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 27 Oct. 2023 Alford was 19-of-25 for 317 yards with five touchdowns while playing only the first half as Central went into intermission leading 44-0. al, 1 Sep. 2023 The program was played without intermission, with McHale taking two solos in the middle of the concert to give the McGills a breather. Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Oct. 2023 The play amounts to just four scenes, barely more than an hour in all (plus an unnecessary 15-minute intermission). Peter Debruge, Variety, 4 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'intermission.' 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 intermyssyown, from Latin intermission-, intermissio, from intermittere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of intermission was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near intermission

Cite this Entry

“Intermission.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intermission. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

intermission

noun
in·​ter·​mis·​sion ˌint-ər-ˈmish-ən How to pronounce intermission (audio)
1
: pause entry 1 sense 1, interruption
work without intermission
2
: a pause or interval between the parts of an entertainment (as the acts of a play)

Medical Definition

intermission

noun
in·​ter·​mis·​sion ˌint-ər-ˈmish-ən How to pronounce intermission (audio)
: the space of time between two paroxysms of a disease compare arrest, cure entry 1 sense 1, remission

More from Merriam-Webster on intermission

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!