The sudden interruption stopped Beryl in mid-flow.
Synonyms: disruption, break, halt, obstacle More Synonyms of interrupt
2. verb
If someone or something interrupts a process or activity, they stop it for a period of time.
He has rightly interrupted his holiday in Spain to return to London. [VERB noun]
The match took nearly three hours and was interrupted at times by rain. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: suspend, break, stop, end More Synonyms of interrupt
interruptionvariable noun
...interruptions in the supply of food and fuel. [+ in/to]
Motherhood did not constitute much of an interruption to her career.
I was able to get on with my work without interruption.
Synonyms: stoppage, stop, pause, suspension More Synonyms of interrupt
3. verb
If something interrupts a line, surface, or view, it stops it from being continuous or makes it look irregular.
Taller plants interrupt the views from the house. [VERB noun]
More Synonyms of interrupt
interrupt in British English
(ˌɪntəˈrʌpt)
verb
1.
to break the continuity of (an action, event, etc) or hinder (a person) by intrusion
2. (transitive)
to cease to perform (some action)
3. (transitive)
to obstruct (a view)
4.
to prevent or disturb (a conversation, discussion, etc) by questions, interjections, or comment
noun
5.
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
Derived forms
interruptible (ˌinterˈruptible)
adjective
interruptive (ˌinterˈruptive)
adjective
interruptively (ˌinterˈruptively)
adverb
Word origin
C15: from Latin interrumpere, from inter- + rumpere to break
interrupt in American English
(ˌɪntəˈrʌpt)
verb transitive
1.
a.
to break into or in upon (a discussion, train of thought, etc.)
b.
to break in upon (a person) who is speaking, working, etc.; stop or hinder
2.
to make a break in the continuity of; cut off; obstruct
verb intransitive
3.
to make an interruption, esp. in another's speech, action, etc.
Derived forms
interruptive (ˌinterˈruptive)
adjective
Word origin
ME interrupten < L interruptus, pp. of interrumpere, to break apart, break off < inter-, between + rumpere, to break: see rupture
Examples of 'interrupt' in a sentence
interrupt
That interrupted the flow and allowed Pau some respite.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A human scream interrupts our stilted conversation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Sometimes I'm the one doing the interrupting!
The Sun (2016)
Or will the polite conversations of its elites be rudely interrupted?
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
The marriage in no way interrupted her dramatic career.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Three days without my work being constantly interrupted by calls.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There is no one to interrupt them.
O'Keeffe, John Your One Week Way to Mind-Fitness (1994)
You can interrupt a conversation with somebody at any time.
Christianity Today (2000)
What happens when the perfect life is interrupted by something as inconvenient as cancer?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He then opens the door and throws more punches before being interrupted by another driver.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But after dropping his trousers they were rudely interrupted.
The Sun (2012)
That needed three operations and interrupted his career.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There is also the problem of a relationship being interrupted constantly.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
No one can interrupt you and you have to have all the ideas.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They were not allowed to interrupt adult conversation.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Less exciting moments of intimacy must constantly be interrupted in the same way.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The concierge waves a greeting without interrupting his conversation on the telephone.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The most readable writers seldom interrupt the natural flow of their sentences by placing a dependent clause after the subject.
Marius, Richard A Short Guide to Writing About History (1995)
They finished each other's sentences without missing a beat or interrupting the flow of conversation.
Eddison, Sydney A Patchwork Garden: Unexpected Pleasures from a Country Garden (1990)
On days she wanted to sleep, something always interrupted.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
The panel members kept interrupting one another with one-liners.
Sidney Sheldon The Other Side of Me
Although having your relationships rudely interrupted by revolution isn't very fair.
The Sun (2014)
Nine more have followed, although latterly his career has been interrupted by two serious shoulder operations.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
More importantly, they interrupt the flow.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Quite another to interrupt Cabinet business by using pointed questions to demand answers of more senior colleagues.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
I was continually interrupted, with one member in particular being aggressive.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
interrupt
British English: interrupt /ˌɪntəˈrʌpt/ VERB
If you interrupt someone who is speaking, you say or do something that causes them to stop.
They interrupted me every time I tried to say something.
She tapped him on the shoulder. `Sorry to interrupt.'
American English: interrupt
Arabic: يُقاطِعُ
Brazilian Portuguese: interromper
Chinese: 打断
Croatian: prekinuti
Czech: přerušit
Danish: afbryde
Dutch: onderbreken
European Spanish: interrumpir
Finnish: keskeyttää
French: interrompre
German: unterbrechen
Greek: διακόπτω
Italian: interrompere
Japanese: 中断する
Korean: 방해하다
Norwegian: avbryte
Polish: przerwać
European Portuguese: interromper
Romanian: a întrerupe
Russian: прерывать
Latin American Spanish: interrumpir
Swedish: avbryta
Thai: ทำให้หยุดชะงัก
Turkish: sözünü kesmek
Ukrainian: переривати
Vietnamese: chen ngang
Chinese translation of 'interrupt'
interrupt
(ɪntəˈrʌpt)
vt
[speaker, conversation]打断(斷) (dǎduàn)
[activity]中断(斷) (zhōngduàn)
vi
(in conversation) 打岔 (dǎchà)
see usage note
disturb
1 (verb)
Definition
to break into (a conversation or discussion) by questions or comment
`Sorry to interrupt, Colonel.'
Synonyms
intrude
He kept intruding with personal questions.
disturb
I didn't want to disturb you.
intervene
The situation calmed down when police intervened.
interfere (with)
break in
Suddenly, O'Leary broke in with a suggestion.
heckle
He was insulted and heckled mercilessly.
butt in
Nobody asked you to butt in.
barge in (informal)
break (someone's) train of thought
2 (verb)
Definition
to stop (a process or activity) temporarily
We interrupted our holiday to return to London.
Synonyms
suspend
The union suspended strike action this week.
break
He aims to break the vicious cycle.
stop
I think she really would have liked to stop everything right there.
end
Talks have resumed to try to end the fighting.
cut
They used pressure tactics such as cutting food and water supplies.
stay
The finance ministry stayed the execution to avoid upsetting a nervous market.
check
Today's meeting must focus on checking the spread of violence.
delay
I delayed my departure until she could join me.
cease
A small number of firms have ceased trading.
cut off
postpone
He decided to postpone the expedition.
shelve
Sadly, the project has now been shelved.
put off
defer
Customers often defer payment for as long as possible.
break off
adjourn
The proceedings have been adjourned until next week.
cut short
discontinue
Do not discontinue the treatment without consulting your doctor.
3 (verb)
Definition
to stop (a process or activity) temporarily
Our view was interrupted only by an occasional squall of pigeons.
Synonyms
block
a row of spruce trees that blocked his view
limit
He limited payments on the country's foreign debt.
restrict
The shoulder straps restrict movement.
cut off
obstruct
Drivers who park illegally obstruct the flow of traffic.
impede
Fallen rocks are impeding the progress of rescue workers.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adjourn
Definition
to postpone or be postponed temporarily
The proceedings have been adjourned until next week.