hiatus

noun

hī-ˈā-təs How to pronounce hiatus (audio)
Definition of hiatusnext
1
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) steam was rising from a hiatus in the ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in void
an incomplete or deficient area a hiatus in the law which prevented the district attorney from prosecuting the offenders

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in interruption
a break in continuity a three-year hiatus before the fifth book in the series appeared

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hiatus New episodes of the daytime talk show aren't on this week thanks to the nationwide holiday — the period before which the long-running series has traditionally gone on hiatus in years past. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 29 June 2026 Olympic medalist Jade Carey successfully returned to elite gymnastics at the American Classic after a two-year hiatus. — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026 The production is also difficult vocally and physically, especially after a hiatus. — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026 In celebration of Vogue Taiwan's 30th anniversary, a PhotoVogue Exhibition returns to the island after a three-year hiatus since its 2023 debut in Taipei, Blooming Together. — Photovogue, Vogue, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hiatus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hiatus
  1. gap
  2. void
  3. interruption
  4. hole
  5. interval
  6. pause
Noun
  • Actress Mariska Hargitay, who joined Swift courtside at Madison Square Garden during Game 4 of the NBA Finals, appears to have one notable gap in her Broadway schedule.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • By the end of the match, the vast gap in the teams’ rankings had been reduced to only one goal.
    — Tim Rohan, NBC news, 4 July 2026
Definition of gap
Noun
  • One minute you could be booked and busy, the next, a major client leaves, and you’re left scrambling to bring in new leads to fill the void.
    — Chelsea Tobin, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • On June 30, Williams and Meir ventured into the void to replace a wrist joint on the space station's Canadarm2 robotic arm that had been malfunctioning.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of void
Noun
  • Research at the University of California, Irvine in 2008 found that returning to full focus after an interruption can take an average of 23 minutes.
    — Faustino Júnior, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • In February 2025, Musk admitted DOGE accidentally ended—and then quickly restored—funding for Ebola prevention, saying there was no interruption to programming.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 6 July 2026
Definition of interruption
Noun
  • Mozeliak said the Angels should not consider a trade proposal in isolation, without considering how to flex their major-market muscles to fill whatever hole a trade might create.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • The difference between these two measurements gives the exciton binding energy, a key quantity that determines how strongly the electron and hole remain bound together.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
Definition of hole
Noun
  • When asked to run similar projections while modeling for factors such as return variability, family income and investor behavior, Morningstar showcases a more subdued picture of financial health for account holders at the same intervals.
    — Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 3 July 2026
  • Participants also self-selected their time interval, and outcomes were self-reported, which may introduce participant bias.
    — Allison Forsyth, Health, 30 June 2026
Definition of interval
Noun
  • The stock has eased slightly since then to around $171, a normal pause after such a steep run, and the level to watch is whether that old $130 breakout zone holds if the pullback extends.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • Packages flow directly from dock doors into scanning, identification and stacking—with no pauses, no handoffs and no redesigns.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 6 July 2026
Definition of pause

Browse Nearby Words

heydays
hiatus
hiatuses
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Cite this Entry

“Hiatus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hiatus. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hiatus

Nglish: Translation of hiatus for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hiatus

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