interruption

noun

in·​ter·​rup·​tion ˌin-tə-ˈrəp-shən 

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

Synonyms of interruption

• interval
• hiatus
• pause
• gap

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

Howard's interruption is representative of the backlash the eight senators and Democratic party leadership have faced from a wide swath of its base, which views ending the shutdown as a capitulation to Republicans. —James Powel, USA Today, 16 Nov. 2025

Signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Chicago Cubs in 2016, he's spent nine years in affiliated ball, including a two-year interruption from 2020 to 2021 (COVID-19 pandemic, then injury). —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025

On July 12, Pennsylvanians attempting to call 911 experienced interruptions. —Patrick Damp, CBS News, 16 Nov. 2025

The interruption of federal economic statistics came at an awkward time. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for interruption

• incorruption
• corruption
• disruption
• eruption
• irruption