ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Interrupt

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˌɪntəˈɹʌpt/ · Part of speech verb

Quick meaning: Interrupt is a verb meaning (transitive) To divide; to separate; to break the monotony of.

Meaning

(transitive) To divide; to separate; to break the monotony of.

More Meanings

  1. (transitive, computing) To assert to (a computer) that an exceptional condition must be handled.
  2. (computing, electronics) An event that causes a computer or other device to temporarily cease what it was doing and attend to a condition.
  3. (ambitransitive) To disturb or halt (an ongoing process or action, or the person performing it) by interfering suddenly, especially by speaking.

Example Sentences

Do not interrupt me in my course.
The interrupt caused the packet handler routine to run.
The packet receiver circuit interrupted the microprocessor.
The evenness of the road was not interrupted by a single hill.

Word Forms

Synonyms for interrupt

Depending on context, synonyms include interject, break, disrupt, disturb, cut off, break up.

Antonyms for interrupt

Common opposites include continue, resume.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include break up, cut off, break, disrupt, disturb, interfere.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.