interrupt
Break into conversation
To interrupt is to break into something continuous—a conversation, a process, a flow.
You interrupt someone speaking by cutting in before they finish: Sorry to interrupt, but your car is being towed.
A power outage interrupts service.
In computing, an interrupt is a signal that stops normal processing to handle something urgent.
The noun interruption is more common than the verb for describing the break itself: constant interruptions, without interruption.
Enter a discussion
- cut inInterrupt or intrude suddenly
- break inUnlawful entry
- interjectInsert remarks abruptly
- blurtSpeak suddenly, thoughtlessly
inject · interpolate · interjection · aside · remark · comment · exclaim · contribute
Cease all motion
- ceaseTo discontinue activity
- suspendHalt or hang temporarily
- discontinueTo stop doing
- terminateBring to an end
abort · cut short · break off · end · arrest · check · stall · freeze
Interrupt continuity
- intermissionScheduled performance pause
- hiatusBreak in activity
- gapUnfilled space between
- intervalDuration between two points
lull · respite · recess · time-out · interlude · suspension · breather · downtime
Force off course
- disturbInterrupt or trouble
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
- unsettleCause unease or anxiety
- throw offConfuse or evade
disorganize · interfere · obstruct · impede · hinder · hamper · thwart · frustrate
chime in
Enter a discussion
blurt · inject · interpolate · interjection · aside · remark · comment · exclaim · contribute · add
stop
Cease all motion
- ceaseTo discontinue activity
- suspendHalt or hang temporarily
- discontinueTo stop doing
terminate · abort · cut short · break off · end · arrest · check · stall · freeze · hold
break
Interrupt continuity
- intermissionScheduled performance pause
- hiatusBreak in activity
- gapUnfilled space between
interval · lull · respite · recess · time-out · interlude · suspension · breather · downtime · rest
derail
Force off course
throw off · disorganize · interfere · obstruct · impede · hinder · hamper · thwart · frustrate · delay
intrude
Enter uninvited
barge in · impose · overstep · butt into · meddle · interfere · uninvited · unwelcome · boundary · breach
notification
Formal notice given
exception · handler · request · service · hardware · software · system · processor · trigger · queue
- "Inter-" wordsinterstate, international, interview, interact, intercom
- chime ininterject, butt in, cut in, jump in, pipe up
- obstructblock, halt, stop, impede, hinder
- stopping wordsbrake, halt, pause, freeze, cease
- disruptdisturb, upset, disorder, disorganize, disarrange
- assembly languageregisters, accumulator, instruction set, machine language, operand
interruptlisten
Perceive sound attentively
wait your turn · hold your tongue · defer · hear out · give way
interruptexpedite
Speed up a process
accelerate · facilitate · advance · aid · hasten
- we interrupt this program
- rude interruption
- unexpected interruptionUnforeseen break in continuity
- Girl InterruptedMemoir of institutionalization
- not interruptingRefraining from cutting in
- interrupting cowJoke character that moos early
interruption, interrupted, interrupting, uninterrupted, interrupts, interruptions, interrupter, interruptive, interrupters