in·ter·rupt
ˌin-tə-ˈrəpt 
interrupted; interrupting; interrupts
1
: to stop or hinder by breaking in
interrupted the speaker with frequent questions
2
: to break the uniformity or continuity of
a hot spell occasionally interrupted by a period of cool weather
: to break in upon an action
especially
: to break in with questions or remarks while another is speaking
in·ter·rupt
ˌin-tə-ˈrəpt
ˈin-tə-ˌrəpt
: a feature of a computer that permits the temporary interruption of one activity (such as the execution of a program) in order to perform another
also
: the interruption itself
Examples of interrupt in a Sentence
Verb
It's not polite to interrupt.
His dinner was interrupted by a phone call.
We interrupt this program to bring you a special announcement.
Every summer periods of cool weather occasionally interrupt the intense heat.
Recent Examples on the Web
Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
For families with online businesses, losing credentials to the website, registrar, email, commerce platform, accounting tools, or payment processors can interrupt revenue, create compliance risk, and jeopardize continuity.
—Jamie Hopkins, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
Congestion makes feeding harder, interrupts sleep, and leaves everyone exhausted.
—Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for interrupt
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Many fans online, including X commenters, believe this could set up a TNA Invasion angle, where various individuals from the TNA roster interrupt the match, causing a disqualification.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
For families with online businesses, losing credentials to the website, registrar, email, commerce platform, accounting tools, or payment processors can interrupt revenue, create compliance risk, and jeopardize continuity.
—Jamie Hopkins, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
In meetings, your higher self asks clarifying questions and builds on ideas; your lower self interrupts, defends, and needs to be right.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
Congestion makes feeding harder, interrupts sleep, and leaves everyone exhausted.
—Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 8 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for interrupt
Cite this Entry
“Interrupt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interrupt. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share