Hiatus
haɪˈeɪtəs
Definitions
2 meaningsA pause or gap in a sequence, series, or process.
haɪˈeɪtəs
A break or interruption in the continuity of a work, series, action, etc.
After working tirelessly for a year, she decided to take a hiatus from her career.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're watching your favorite TV show, and suddenly, there's a break for a few months. That break is a hiatus! It's like a temporary stop.
👶 For kids: A break or pause in something, like when your favorite TV show stops for a while.
More Examples
The summer hiatus allowed the students to relax and recharge before the new school year.
There was a long hiatus between the end of the book and the beginning of the sequel.
How It's Used
"The band is taking a hiatus to focus on individual projects."
"There was a hiatus in the story between the first and second chapters, leaving the reader in suspense."
"The company announced a temporary hiatus in production due to supply chain issues."
The occurrence of two vowel sounds next to each other but pronounced separately, as in the words 'cooperate'.
haɪˈeɪtəs
A gap where two words are pronounced separately, though not obviously
The word 'archaeology' features a hiatus between the vowels.
💡 Simply: When two vowel sounds come right next to each other, but each is said separately, like in the word 'co-operate.' It's a little break in how you say the sounds.
👶 For kids: When two vowel sounds are next to each other but you say them separately.
More Examples
In many dialects, the pronunciation of 'science' avoids a hiatus by pronouncing the first two vowels together.
How It's Used
"The word 'co-operate' presents a hiatus between the 'o' sounds."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
on hiatus
Temporarily stopped or paused.
"The TV show is on hiatus for the summer."
From Latin *hiatus* meaning 'gap' or 'opening', derived from *hiare* ('to gape').
Used since the 17th century to describe gaps or breaks.
Memory tip
Think of the word "high" to remember it is a gap up *high* in the sequence.
Word Origin
"to gape"