hiccup

noun

ˈhi-(ˌ)kəp How to pronounce hiccup (audio)
variants also hiccough
Definition of hiccupnext
as in interruption
a break in continuity the business has grown steadily for 14 years, with only a few minor hiccups

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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 hiccup All in all, however, there haven't been any major hiccups. — Zac Anderson, USA Today, 25 June 2026 Teams ran into a hiccup early though as the two air conditioning units were not keeping the temperature cool enough. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2026 Refining the Results There were plenty of hiccups before this vision materialized, however. — Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026 The New York Knicks championship parade drew massive crowds to celebrate the team winning the 2026 NBA Finals — but the celebration hasn't been without its hiccups. — Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hiccup
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hiccup
  1. interruption
  2. interval
  3. hiatus
  4. pause
  5. gap
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
  • The democratization of private credit through interval funds and other retail-accessible vehicles has created access, but not necessarily access to the same deal quality available to the largest institutional investors.
    — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • Although the numbers on the chassis were divided into various unrelated intervals, the transmissions appeared to be numbered sequentially, as were the tank guns, heaters, road wheels and turret engines.
    — Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 7 July 2026
Definition of interval
Noun
  • The production is also difficult vocally and physically, especially after a hiatus.
    — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • The festival has been on hiatus since last year, so maybe organizers have time for a trip to New York?
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
Definition of hiatus
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
Noun
  • That gap means people who don’t have consistent access to healthy food also aren’t getting help.
    — Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026
  • The report also estimates that of the 75 million global garment and textile workers, 75 percent of that workforce are women facing a 41 percent wage gap versus the adequate standard of living, as of 2025.
    — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 10 July 2026
Definition of gap

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hibernations
hiccup
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Cite this Entry

“Hiccup.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hiccup. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hiccup

Nglish: Translation of hiccup for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hiccup

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