interrupt
to cause or make a break in the continuity or uniformity of (a course, process, condition, etc.).
to break off or cause to cease, as in the middle of something: He interrupted his work to answer the bell.
to stop (a person) in the midst of doing or saying something, especially by an interjected remark: May I interrupt you to comment on your last remark?
to cause a break or discontinuance; interfere with action or speech, especially by interjecting a remark: Please don't interrupt.
Computers. a hardware signal that breaks the flow of program execution and transfers control to a predetermined storage location so that another procedure can be followed or a new operation carried out.
Origin of interrupt
1synonym study For interrupt
Other words for interrupt
Opposites for interrupt
Other words from interrupt
- in·ter·rupt·ed·ly, adverb
- in·ter·rupt·ed·ness, noun
- in·ter·rupt·i·ble, adjective
- in·ter·rup·tive, adjective
- non·in·ter·rupt·i·ble, adjective
- non·in·ter·rup·tive, adjective
- re·in·ter·rupt, verb
- self-in·ter·rupt·ing, adjective
- un·in·ter·rupt·i·ble, adjective
- un·in·ter·rupt·ing, adjective
- un·in·ter·rup·tive, adjective
Words Nearby interrupt
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use interrupt in a sentence
The child is loud, intrusive, screams, runs, climbs on the furniture, demands attention, interrupts, cannot sit still .
Carolyn Hax: They ‘really cannot stand’ their rambunctious grandchild | Carolyn Hax | February 2, 2021 | Washington PostThe television networks interrupt their broadcasts to take the nation directly to Selma.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’ | Gary May | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTA contest is divided into two 45-minute periods with a 15-minute halftime, and there are no commercials to interrupt the action.
Rupert Murdoch Bets a Half-Billion Dollars That the Next World Cup Will Be Even Bigger in America | Evan Weiner | June 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis one, as the name implies, involves ingesting the long-lasting hallucinogen with the power to interrupt her addiction.
Since a tight feeling in your lungs is so common during panic attacks, deep breathing can interrupt that cycle.
Dirt roads are still carved into the desert hills, but only a few buildings interrupt the landscape.
The Devil’s Drug: The True Story of Meth in New Mexico | Nick Romeo | August 24, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTThen you are a very bad trustee, thus to misuse the foot-way, and interrupt passengers.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | VariousNever interrupt an earnest or apparently interesting conversation.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness | Florence HartleyHe tells me he doesn't want his marriage to interrupt wholly that pleasant intimacy which has existed between you and me.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinAn ordinary mortal may not interrupt a king, but a king may interrupt anything, except perhaps a German bombardment.
The Amazing Interlude | Mary Roberts RinehartThis long conversation between Ivan and the prince excited some alarm among the shareholders; they tried to interrupt it.
Black Diamonds | Mr Jkai
British Dictionary definitions for interrupt
/ (ˌɪntəˈrʌpt) /
to break the continuity of (an action, event, etc) or hinder (a person) by intrusion
(tr) to cease to perform (some action)
(tr) to obstruct (a view)
to prevent or disturb (a conversation, discussion, etc) by questions, interjections, or comment
the signal to initiate the stopping of the running of one computer program in order to run another, after which the running of the original program is usually continued
Origin of interrupt
1Derived forms of interrupt
- interruptible, adjective
- interruptive, adjective
- interruptively, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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