interval

noun in·ter·val \ ˈin-tər-vəl \

Updated on: 10 May 2018

Definition of interval

1 a : a space of time between events or states

b British : intermission

2 a : a space between objects, units, points, or states

b : the difference in pitch between two tones

3 : a set of real numbers between two numbers either including or excluding one or both of them

4 : one of a series of fast-paced exercises interspersed with slower ones or brief rests for training (as of an athlete)

—

intervallic

play \ˌin-tər-ˈva-lik\ adjective

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Examples of interval in a Sentence

a three-month interval between jobs
There might be long intervals during which nothing happens.
The sun shone for brief intervals throughout the day.
There will be a 20-minute interval between acts one and two.

Recent Examples of interval from the Web

But even if the pulses are uneven, the crystals still switch direction at regular intervals, meaning they could be used as a form of keeping time.

— avery thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Scientists Discover 'Time Crystals' Growing Right Under Their Noses," 4 May 2018
But about 15% of breast cancers turn up in that interval between regular screenings.

— karen kaplan, latimes.com, "Looking for clues about the dangerous breast cancers that turn up between mammograms," 3 May 2018
Since then, about 320,000 immigrants from several countries have had their TPS renewed at regular intervals.

— monique o. madan, miamiherald, "Hondurans could lose TPS status this week under Trump | Miami Herald," 30 Apr. 2018
So kick it up with a three-pronged approach: Cardio: Doing intervals can be especially effective at raising your metabolic rate and burning fat.

— Good Housekeeping, "Your Metabolism, Explained: How to Boost Your Body's Fat-Burning System and Lose Weight," 24 Apr. 2018
As the trial progressed, more patients were added, and the dosage of the medication increased at regular intervals.

— kristen jordan shamus, Detroit Free Press, "Livingston mom battles breast cancer with experimental treatments to help other patients," 22 Apr. 2018
The intervals between buses would be longer, 40 minutes, during peak travel periods due to a reduction in the number of buses continuing north of Winnetka.

— karen berkowitz, chicagotribune.com, "Proposal looks to eliminate alternate Pace route along Green Bay Road," 17 Apr. 2018
Students in those same grades are also tested in science at regular intervals, and the 2015 results, released in 2016, showed Alabama students at or near the bottom of the pack.

— trisha powell crain, AL.com, "Alabama's national test scores still low, but not last," 10 Apr. 2018
Those intervals also are jarringly visually different, from a gorgeous animated sequence showing a butterfly in flight to a gruesome image of a man with body integrity identity disorder trying to saw off his own leg.

— samantha nelson, The Verge, "In season 2, FX’s Legion is still using a familiar genre to tell an extraordinary story," 5 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of interval

Middle English intervalle, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French entreval, from Latin intervallum space between ramparts, interval, from inter- + vallum rampart — more at wall

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year