interrupt

verb

ˌin-tə-ˈrəpt How to pronounce interrupt (audio)
Definition of interruptnext
as in to intrude
to cause a disruption in a conversation or discussion it's rude to interrupt when someone is making an important point

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 interrupt Tate McRae interrupted a run of barely-there sandals with a far more embellished Chanel pair Sunday at the Skylrk World Cup after party at The Twenty Two New York. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 20 July 2026 If work interrupts family time, name the boundary and offer a practical alternative instead of quietly resenting everyone involved. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 20 July 2026 Consistently hand-picking eggs and squash bugs is the best way to interrupt the squash bug life cycle and prevent new eggs from hatching. — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 20 July 2026 Simplify the checklist, confirm the visit, or fix the household detail that keeps interrupting your focus. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for interrupt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for interrupt
  1. intrude
  2. bother
  3. cut in
  4. add
  5. interpose
  6. break in
Verb
  • The direct address to the press comes after his predecessor Julian Nagelsmann faced intense scrutiny and criticism from media and former members of the national team, intruding into his private life while in the role.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • India and China accused each other’s troops of constructing infrastructure and intruding into their respective territories.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026
Definition of intrude
Verb
  • And Zendaya not looking especially Greek doesn’t bother Shapiro in the least.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 20 July 2026
  • That clause has governed American creativity for more than two centuries on an assumption so obvious nobody bothered to write it down.
    — Charles Lew, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of bother
Verb
  • Campbell said the measure could be an important tool for recouping the $6 million the city cut in this year’s budgeting process, but not if the measure was destined to fail.
    — Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
  • When an excitable teenager cut in front of my dad, Frankenstein — without saying a word — gestured for the kid to be patient and wait, patted my dad on the back and posed for a picture.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of cut in
Verb
  • Iran has, in turn, expanded its target list across seven countries in the region, and official media outlets have suggested that major ports in Gulf Arab states may soon be added.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • Tariff volatility has been an issue, particularly for brands and manufacturers over-reliant on China, while regulation continues to dampen progress around smart glasses owing to EU delays around AI compliance, Cazin adds.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 20 July 2026
Definition of add
Verb
  • The short-haired friend interposed herself on the bench between the twenty-three-year-old woman and the thirty-five-year-old man, putting her arm around the former and totally ignoring the latter.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
  • Language, being a product of rationality, lacks the capacity to interpose itself.
    — Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 13 June 2026
Definition of interpose
Verb
  • As a bonus, these breaks in the action give fans the opportunity to go to the fridge, the bathroom, or both.
    — The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Dixon broke down in tears when asked about the 14-year break in the case and the emotional reaction from Chavez's relatives.
    — Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 22 July 2026
Definition of break in

Browse Nearby Words

interrogatory
interrupt
interrupted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Interrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/interrupt. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on interrupt

Nglish: Translation of interrupt for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of aerie

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All