interruption

noun

in·​ter·​rup·​tion ˌin-tə-ˈrəp-shən How to pronounce interruption (audio)
plural interruptions
1
: an act of interrupting something or someone or the state of being interrupted: such as
a
: a stoppage or hindering of an activity for a time
Our conversation continued without interruption for over an hour.
b
: a break in the continuity of something
Internet service interruptions
2
: something that causes a stoppage or break in the continuity of something
a rude interruption
watching television without commercial interruptions

Examples of interruption in a Sentence

an interruption in cable service during the lightning storm a brief interruption in the discussion while we all got coffee
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Those prizes were established in the will of Swedish dynamite inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel and have been handed out since 1901, with a few interruptions mostly due to the world wars. Simon Johnson, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025 That marks the first time any album has had every one of its songs take over the chart’s top spots without interruption in the history of the Hot 100, going back to the 1950s. Chris Willman, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025 Even small interruptions matter because of how heavily modern manufacturing depends on advanced chips. Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025 While some government programs have continued during the shutdown with minimal interruptions, state agencies may not have enough funding for nutrition assistance services if the shutdown extends past October. Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for interruption

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

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Cite this Entry

“Interruption.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interruption. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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