Definition

1. Verb:
   • To stop the continuous progress of an activity or process: To cause something to cease temporarily or permanently by breaking its continuity.
   • To stop a person who is speaking by saying or doing something: To break into a conversation or monologue, often considered impolite.
   • To obstruct or block a view, line, or passage: To create a break in the continuity of a physical space or signal.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (to stop an activity):

  • A loud noise interrupted the lecture. (The noise caused the lecture to stop temporarily.)
  • The power outage interrupted our work for several hours. (The outage broke the continuity of our work process.)

• Verb (to stop a speaker):

  • It is rude to interrupt someone when they are speaking. (It is impolite to break into someone's speech.)
  • "May I interrupt for a moment?" he asked politely. (He asked for permission to break into the conversation briefly.)

• Verb (to obstruct):

  • A tall building interrupts the view of the mountains. (The building blocks the line of sight to the mountains.)

Advanced Usage

• In computing: A signal that causes the processor to temporarily halt its current task to handle a higher-priority event.
  • The keyboard sends an interrupt signal when a key is pressed.
• "To interrupt oneself": To stop one's own speech or action.
  • She interrupted herself mid-sentence to answer the phone.

Variants and Related Words

• Interruption (noun): The act of interrupting or the state of being interrupted.
  • There was a brief interruption in service.
• Interruptive (adjective): Causing an interruption.
  • The interruptive noise made concentration impossible.
• Uninterrupted (adjective): Continuous without interruption.
  • We enjoyed hours of uninterrupted conversation.

Synonyms

• Halt: To bring to a stop.
• Disrupt: To cause disorder or interrupt a process.
• Intrude: To enter or interrupt a situation without invitation.
• Cut in: To interrupt a conversation (informal).

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Interrupt" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically expressed by the verb alone or with a prepositional phrase like "interrupt with.") - Interrupt with: To break into speech by introducing something. - He constantly interrupted the meeting with irrelevant questions.

Related Idioms

• To interrupt the silence: To make a noise that ends a period of quiet.
  • A bird's song interrupted the silence of the dawn.
• A rude interruption: An impolite act of breaking into a conversation.
  • His comment was seen as a rude interruption.

Noun

1. a signal that temporarily stops the execution of a program so that another procedure can be carried out

Verb

1. terminate
   • She interrupted her pregnancy
   • break a lucky streak
   • break the cycle of poverty
2. interfere in someone else's activity
   • Please don't interrupt me while I'm on the phone
3. destroy the peace or tranquility of
   • Don't interrupt me when I'm reading
4. make a break in
   • We interrupt the program for the following messages