interval

noun

in·​ter·​val ˈin-tər-vəl 

plural intervals

1

a

: a space of time between events or states

a two-month interval between medical treatments

There were long intervals during the game in which nothing exciting happened.

b

British : intermission

There was a twenty minute interval between acts two and three.

2

: the difference in pitch between two tones

3

: a space between objects, units, points, or states

The posts were set up at regular intervals along the road.

4

: one of a series of fast-paced or intense physical exercises alternated with slower or less intense ones or brief rests for training (as of an athlete) see also interval training

5

: a set of real numbers between two numbers either including or excluding one or both of them

intervallic

ˌin-tər-ˈva-lik 

adjective

Synonyms

• interruption
• hiatus
• gap
• pause

Examples of interval in a Sentence

a three-month interval between jobs

There might be long intervals during which nothing happens.

The sun shone for brief intervals throughout the day.

There will be a 20-minute interval between acts one and two.

Recent Examples on the Web

As the Universe expands, the expansion rate and energy density both do not change, leading to a relentless state where the Universe doubles in size, again and again, each time a certain interval elapses. —Big Think, 24 Oct. 2025

The day begins and ends with the blue hour, that interval prized by artists for centuries. —Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

Almost the entirety of the nearly two-hour film unfolds over the course of that brief impact window, with the same roughly 18-minute interval playing out on screen three times over from the perspectives of different military and political officials. —Megan McCluskey, Time, 24 Oct. 2025

There will be intervals of clouds and sunshine with a couple of showers and breezy. —Leah Olajide, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English intervalle, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French entreval, from Latin intervallum space between ramparts, interval, from inter- + vallum rampart — more at wall

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing interval

• class interval
• confidence interval
• high-intensity interval training
• interval training

Kids Definition

interval

noun

in·​ter·​val ˈint-ər-vəl 

1

: a period of time between events or states : pause

a three-month interval

the interval between elections

2

: a space between things

the interval between two desks

3

: difference in pitch between tones

Medical Definition

interval

noun

in·​ter·​val ˈint-ər-vəl 

: a space of time between events or states

intervals between pregnancies