interrupt

verb

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in·ter·rupt | \ ˌin-tə-ˈrəpt

interrupted; interrupting; interrupts

Definition of interrupt

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to stop or hinder by breaking in interrupted the speaker with frequent questions

2 : to break the uniformity or continuity of a hot spell occasionally interrupted by a period of cool weather

intransitive verb

: to break in upon an action especially : to break in with questions or remarks while another is speaking

interrupt

noun

in·ter·rupt | \ ˌin-tə-ˈrəpt

, ˈin-tə-ˌrəpt \

Definition of interrupt (Entry 2 of 2)

: a feature of a computer that permits the temporary interruption of one activity (such as the execution of a program) in order to perform another also : the interruption itself

Other Words from interrupt Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About interrupt

Other Words from interrupt

Verb

interruptible \ ˌin-tə-ˈrəp-tə-bəl

\ adjective

interruptive \ ˌin-tə-ˈrəp-tiv

\ adverb

Examples of interrupt in a Sentence

Verb It's not polite to interrupt. His dinner was interrupted by a phone call. We interrupt this program to bring you a special announcement. Every summer periods of cool weather occasionally interrupt the intense heat.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb According to Harvard Medical School, the idea is to create a stimulus that will interrupt the signals causing the hiccup reflex, effectively startling the nervous system out of the behavior. — Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 23 July 2022 Some are quite small, however, and may have low ceilings or freestanding columns that interrupt space, having been built in converted warehouses or other industrial buildings. — New York Times, 11 Jan. 2022 Figuring out the social networks within which monkeypox is spreading, in order to interrupt them, has been difficult. — Wired, 26 July 2022 In the next 10 years, messages that interrupt us will disappear as only sales offers based on AI assessment of your readiness to buy will reach you. — Pradeep Aradhya, Forbes, 13 June 2022 Instead, the headaches continued to interrupt his nights. — New York Times, 15 Dec. 2021 At that point, Senate Health Committee Chair Patty Murray, D-Wash., told Paul to let Fauci finish -- though the senator continued to interrupt his witness. — Libby Cathey, ABC News, 20 July 2021 The pilgrims threw pebbles at three large pillars that mark the places where the devil tried to interrupt Ibrahim’s sacrifice. — Amr Nabil, BostonGlobe.com, 9 July 2022 The grotesquerie of the images is meant to interrupt what pleasure the scene might otherwise prompt. — Namwali Serpell, The New York Review of Books, 6 July 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun In Alaska, Gibbs and McGee interrupt Sonova CEO Sonia Eberhard at the groundbreaking ceremony for the copper ore mine. — Sara Netzley, EW.com, 12 Oct. 2021 Hearing their own name is a pattern interrupt that gets their attention. — Forbes, 5 July 2021 Hearing that Jennifer has just called the president a misogynist on CNN, Nora has another advisor interrupt POTUS' on-camera interview. — Nick Schager, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2021 Even today, when the sun is shining and Dearborn, the center of Detroit's Arab community, is bustling, planes overhead rumbling along their flight path to Metro Airport interrupt Nabhan. — Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2021 The starter interrupt may allow the vehicle to start when the transmission is not in PARK. — Detroit Free Press, 7 May 2021 The starter interrupt may allow the vehicle to start when the transmission is not in PARK. — Detroit Free Press, 7 May 2021 The starter interrupt may allow the vehicle to start when the transmission is not in PARK. — Detroit Free Press, 7 May 2021 The starter interrupt may allow the vehicle to start when the transmission is not in PARK. — Detroit Free Press, 7 May 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'interrupt.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.