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

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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 interrupt Ling’s crew prepped, and the film crew shot, one side of Hollywood Boulevard at a time so as not to interrupt the tourism activities on the boulevard. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 11 July 2026 When someone interrupts, point to your focus window and offer a slot. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2026 Dinners are interrupted whenever a harried entrepreneur receives that ping that signifies there is a critical, must-address emergency happening on their phone. — Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 This interrupts the breeding cycle and reduces the moth population overall. — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 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
  • If the bill becomes law and the county challenges it, Pio Roda said county attorneys could argue that the state had improperly intruded into a local matter.
    — Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 13 July 2026
  • But in people with narcolepsy, such boundaries become blurred, allowing elements of sleep to intrude into wakefulness in varying ways.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Definition of intrude
Verb
  • The tequila shrimp empanadas disappear quickly, while the huitlacoche quesadilla folds Oaxaca cheese, mushrooms, roasted corn, and salsa macha crema into something deeper and earthier than most Midtown menus bother attempting.
    — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
  • Maybe altering the letters bothered her most because publication inevitably makes the integrity of a letter—the message from writer to recipient—secondary.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
Definition of bother
Verb
  • The two programs most likely to keep someone fed and covered for psychiatric care were cut in the same bill, to the same population, at the same time.
    — Cole Hanson, STAT, 16 July 2026
  • Apparently, Lonnie hasn’t made a cut in seven years, a remarkable level of futility especially given that the show can’t even commit to suggesting that Lonnie’s game is spectacularly bad.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2026
Definition of cut in
Verb
  • Xavier Edwards, Liam Hicks and Brian Navarreto added two hits apiece for the Marlins.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, oil supply is also expected to increase after oil cartel OPEC+ agreed to add 188,000 barrels a day to their output target for August.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Definition of add
Verb
  • Language, being a product of rationality, lacks the capacity to interpose itself.
    — Rachel Cusk, New Yorker, 13 June 2026
  • Peasant growers’ resistance to these operations fueled the Shining Path insurgency by providing recruits and creating an opening for the guerrillas to interpose themselves between the farmers and the police.
    — Michelle D. Paranzino, The Conversation, 11 June 2026
Definition of interpose
Verb
  • To ensure safety during outdoor work, adhere to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)'s recommendations by incorporating regular rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
  • Vanderpump Rules picked up filming off-season when Scandoval broke in 2023.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 15 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 19 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on interrupt

Nglish: Translation of interrupt for Spanish Speakers

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