Interruption

/ˌɪntəˈrʌpʃən/

nounBeginner🔥Very CommonAction
2 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

The act of breaking in on someone or something.

/ˌɪntəˈrʌpʃən/

nounneutralBeginner
Action

The act of stopping the usual course of something.

The loud noise was an unwelcome interruption to my concentration.

💡 Simply: It's like when something stops what's happening. Like, imagine you're watching your favorite show, and suddenly the TV goes blank - that's an interruption!

👶 For kids: When something stops what you're doing.

More Examples

2

There was a brief interruption in the program.

3

She apologized for the interruption and continued her presentation.

How It's Used

General

"The sudden interruption in the power supply caused a major problem."

Business

"There were constant interruptions during the meeting."

2

A pause or break in a process or activity.

/ˌɪntəˈrʌpʃən/

nounneutralmedium
Event

A break in the continuity of something.

The power outage caused a significant interruption to our work.

💡 Simply: It's like taking a quick pause in the middle of something. Like, if you're telling a story and then have to stop to answer the phone, that's an interruption in your storytelling!

👶 For kids: When something stops for a little bit.

More Examples

2

The sudden interruption ruined the flow of the music.

3

There was a short interruption in the internet service.

How It's Used

Technical

"The system experienced an interruption in service."

Communication

"A brief interruption in the phone call occurred."

Tip:Think of a timeline that is broken. That break is an interruption.

Idioms & expressions

without interruption

Continuously; without stopping.

"She spoke without interruption for over an hour."

an unwelcome interruption

Something that stops an activity that is not wanted.

"The phone call was an unwelcome interruption to her studies."

From Latin *interruptio*, from *interrumpere* 'to break off, interrupt', from *inter-* 'between' + *rumpere* 'to break'.

The word 'interruption' has been used since the late 14th century, referring to a breaking off of something.

Memory tip

Imagine a red stop sign cutting across a flow - an interruption.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to break"

brief interruptionsudden interruptionunwelcome interruptionconstant interruptionspower interruption

Common misspellings

interuptioninteruptions

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written