Interrupt Meaning
/ˌɪntəˈɹʌpt/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo disturb or halt (an ongoing process or action, or the person performing it) by interfering suddenly, especially by speaking.
verbTo divide; to separate; to break the monotony of.
Sentence Examples
Why did she interrupt me?
Please don't interrupt me for a while.
Don't interrupt me but hear me out, please.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Please do not ____ the speaker while they are presenting their ideas.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is considered very rude to ____ someone while they are in the middle of a serious explanation.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English interrupten, derived from Latin interruptus, past participle of interrumpere (“to break apart/off, interrupt”), from inter (“between”) + rumpere (“to break”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Do not interrupt me in my course."
— c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iii]:
"One saint's day in mid-term a certain newly appointed suffragan-bishop came to the school chapel, and there preached on “The Inner Life.” He at once secured attention by his informal method, and when presently the coughing of Jarvis […] interrupted the sermon, he altogether captivated his audience with a remark about cough lozenges being cheap and easily procurable."
— 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter III, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Please do not ____ the speaker while they are presenting their ideas.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It is considered very rude to ____ someone while they are in the middle of a serious explanation.