intervals

noun

plural of interval
1
as in interruptions
a break in continuity there were intervals of thousands of years between the major ice ages

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gaps
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) unable to find my way out of the maze, I cheated and squeezed through a convenient interval in the hedge

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 intervals Also, ibogaine’s prolongation of the heart’s QT intervals carries a real risk of fatal arrhythmia. — Michelle Lhooq, New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2026 The rationing program will force many in the capital of San Juan and its surrounding neighborhoods to go without without water for 48 hour intervals, according to Puerto Rico's Aqueduct and Sewer Authority. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 The Maya, for example, observed and calculated intervals between solar and lunar eclipses, building predictions and calendars around the pattern. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 6 Aug. 2026 The silent form is characterized by intervals of zero airflow, while regular obstructive sleep apnea still involves some partial airflow. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026 The most prominent melodies tend to juggle only two or three notes at a time, often over uncomfortably close intervals. — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026 The San Andreas fault northwest of the Cajon Pass usually has big quakes every 100 to 150 years, Scharer said, though intervals of about 200 years are not unheard of. — Rong-Gong Lin Ii Los Angeles Times, Arkansas Online, 2 Aug. 2026 That translates into maintenance sessions at five- to eight-year intervals. — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 23 July 2026 The Kansas City Royals seem to make history in 30-year intervals. — Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for intervals
  1. interruptions
  2. gaps
  3. hiatuses
  4. holes
  5. pauses
  6. crevices
Noun
  • Electricity failures are often coupled with internet and cellular service interruptions, hindering communication via text messaging, phone calls, social media and email at precisely the time it’s needed most.
    — Fiona Doherty, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026
  • In recent years, there were delays and interruptions because of weather, but not full days getting vanquished.
    — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of interruptions
Noun
  • But our meetings with families and older community members in senior centers throughout Arizona affirmed that gaps in memory care are systemic rather than isolated.
    — Eric Cerino, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
  • In 1983, the NBA faced a far more daunting future than the NCAA does now, with revenue gaps endangering teams and unchecked free agency hurting the game’s image.
    — Charles Grantham, Sportico.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of gaps
Noun
  • Despite his enduring success, Rollins was never quite satisfied with his art, occasionally taking lengthy hiatuses from playing and consistently adopting eclectic new styles.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 May 2026
  • Over nearly two decades, BIGBANG has weathered member departures, legal controversies, and years-long hiatuses.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of hiatuses
Noun
  • Hossler was leading until a 30-minute delay because of storms, and returned to three-putt from 30 feet for bogey on the par-3 16th hole, ending his streak of 31 holes without a bogey.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Eagle has filed permit applications for a planned pre-feasibility drilling campaign that includes 47 drill holes covering roughly 27,000 feet.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of holes
Noun
  • When thoughtful pauses disappear, organizations eventually lose the ability to think collectively.
    — Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Smaller and more rural jurisdictions have also adopted one-year pauses, including Queen Anne’s County on the Eastern Shore and Washington County in Western Maryland.
    — Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of pauses
Noun
  • Grab your soft brush and gently sweep any dust out of hard-to-reach crevices (think carved detailing, small corners, or shelving joints).
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 23 July 2026
  • Other signs of bed bugs include ink-like speckled stains on fabrics, shed exoskeletons around crevices of beds and furniture and a sweet, musty smell.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
Definition of crevices

Browse Nearby Words

interval
intervals
intervene
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Cite this Entry

“Intervals.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/intervals. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on intervals

Nglish: Translation of intervals for Spanish Speakers

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