interval

noun

in·ter·val | \ ˈin-tər-vəl

plural intervals

Definition of interval

1a : a space of time between events or states a two-month interval between medical treatments There were long intervals during the game in which nothing exciting happened.

b British : intermission There was a twenty minute interval between acts two and three.

2 : the difference in pitch between two tones

3 : a space between objects, units, points, or states The posts were set up at regular intervals along the road.

4 : one of a series of fast-paced or intense physical exercises alternated with slower or less intense ones or brief rests for training (as of an athlete) — see also interval training

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

Other Words from interval Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing interval Learn More About interval

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 on the Web Then in February, the CDC shortened the time interval between third and fourth doses from six months to three months. — Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, 7 Apr. 2022 Plus, a longer interval between shots helps the immune system mount a stronger, more cross-reactive defense. — Lauran Neergaard And Matthew Perrone, Anchorage Daily News, 29 Mar. 2022 Plus, a longer interval between shots helps the immune system mount a stronger, more cross-reactive defense. — Lauran Neergaard And Matthew Perrone, Chron, 29 Mar. 2022 Plus, a longer interval between shots helps the immune system mount a stronger, more cross-reactive defense. — Matthew Perrone, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2022 Kipchoge acolytes are in a similar bind; the laws of aging would suggest that with every half-year interval between marathons, Kipchoge’s odds of winning would decrease. — Martin Fritz Huber, Outside Online, 12 Mar. 2022 Vaccine experts say these developments signal that Pfizer may adjust the dose amount, number of doses, or interval between shots for young children in the months ahead. — Catherine Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Mar. 2022 The change, extending the interval between doses from three weeks for the Pfizer vaccine or four weeks for Moderna, could increase the amount of time a patient is protected against COVID-19, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. — Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 23 Feb. 2022 For the first time in four months, the official interval between sunrise and sunset reached 11 hours. — Washington Post, 22 Feb. 2022 See More

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.