interrupt

verb

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

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Other Words from interrupt

Verb

interruptible \ˌin-tə-ˈrəp-tə-bəl

\ adjective

interruption \ˌin-tə-ˈrəp-shən

\ noun

interruptive \ˌin-tə-ˈrəp-tiv

\ adverb

Synonyms for interrupt

Synonyms: Verb

break in, chime in, chip in [chiefly British], cut in, interpose, intrude

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

And since we are now required to carry phones, conversations with patients are constantly interrupted by calls and texts. — Marie G. Mcintyre, The Seattle Times, "Struggling in the chaotic, stressful health-care workplace," 21 Nov. 2018 The vote itself was interrupted several times by protesters. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, "Amidst Protest and Fury, Brett Kavanaugh Is Confirmed to the Supreme Court," 6 Oct. 2018 At the end of last summer, their retirement idyll was interrupted when a small, frightened girl wrapped in a fleece blanket rang their doorbell at 1:30 in the morning. — Lauren Smiley, Glamour, "Two White Moms. Six Black Kids. One Unthinkable Tragedy. A Look Inside the ‘Perfect’ Hart Family," 6 Sep. 2018 This moment was interrupted by a pickup truck swerving into the courtyard carrying a young man who had part of his right foot shot off. — Joshua Partlow, chicagotribune.com, "Inside the church where Nicaraguan paramilitaries laid siege on university students," 14 July 2018 Most important of all, you won’t be getting constantly interrupted by a vibrating phone as the calls come in. — Chris Welch, The Verge, "Google’s Phone app can now prevent some spam calls from interrupting you," 13 July 2018 Some days, the peace and quiet is interrupted by the window-rattling roar of airboats, who bring groups of tourists out on Lake Tohopekaliga for a close-up view of the alligators, birds and wildlife. — Ryan Gillespie, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Despite new law, homeowners on Lake Toho still complain about airboat noise," 13 July 2018 Their idyll is interrupted when a feral and mysterious 14-year-old girl shoots their cattle dead, sending Wyatt Smith into Utah's hyper-violent crime underworld to find her. — refinery29.com, "How Rae DelBianco Went From Cattle Farmer To Bookstagram Queen To Literary Darling — All By 25," 13 July 2018 Transmission, however, was interrupted as lines came down, knocking out power to all 3 million-plus residents of the island. — NBC News, "U.S. plans to remove backup power generators in Puerto Rico. Officials worry it's hurricane season.," 11 July 2018

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.