Definition

Noun: 1. A temporary stop or break in the continuity of an activity or process: An event or action that causes something to pause or cease for a period of time. 2. An act of stopping someone while they are speaking or concentrating: Something that disturbs or breaks the flow of speech, thought, or action. 3. The state of being interrupted: The condition of having one's activity or process broken off.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to a break in an activity:
  • The power interruption lasted for two hours.
  • We continued the meeting after a brief interruption for lunch.
• Referring to something that disturbs focus or speech:
  • I'm sorry for the interruption, but you have a phone call.
  • Constant interruptions made it impossible to finish my work.
• Referring to the act of causing a break:
  • He was annoyed by her frequent interruption of his story.

Advanced Usage

• "Without interruption": Continuously, without any stops or breaks.
  • She worked for three hours without interruption.
• "To be an interruption to something": To act as a disruptive factor.
  • The loud construction noise was a constant interruption to our conversation.

Variants and Related Words

• Interrupt (verb): To stop the continuous progress of an activity or process; to break the continuity of.
  • Please do not interrupt the speaker.
• Interruptive (adjective): Causing an interruption; tending to interrupt.
  • His interruptive questions slowed down the lecture.
• Uninterrupted (adjective): Continuous, without any breaks or stops.
  • We enjoyed a period of uninterrupted peace.

Synonyms

• Break: A pause or interval.
  • We took a short break.
• Disruption: A disturbance or problem that interrupts an event, activity, or process.
  • The protest caused a major disruption.
• Halt: A temporary or permanent stop.
  • Traffic came to a halt.
• Gap: A break or hole in something continuous.
  • There was a gap in the conversation.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To suffer an interruption: To experience a break in continuity.
  • The broadcast suffered an interruption due to technical difficulties.
• A welcome interruption: A break that is pleasant or needed.
  • The delivery of coffee was a welcome interruption to the long meeting.

Noun

1. a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
2. some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity
   • the telephone is an annoying interruption
   • there was a break in the action when a player was hurt
3. an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity
   • it was presented without commercial breaks
   • there was a gap in his account