Word
interlude
Phoneticsin·ter·lude, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪntɝˌɫud/
UK/ˈɪntəlˌuːd/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a short period of time between two longer events. It is often a break in a play or a piece of music where you can rest or think about what you just saw.
n. a short period of time that intervenes between longer events or periods; specifically, a musical or dramatic piece performed between the main parts of a larger work.
Examples
“The band played a short acoustic interlude between their louder songs.”
“During the twenty-minute interlude, the audience moved to the lobby for refreshments before the second act began.”
“The brief interlude of peace between the two wars allowed the nation to rebuild its infrastructure, though the underlying political tensions remained largely unresolved.”
Examples
simple
“The band played a short acoustic interlude between their louder songs.”
contextual
“During the twenty-minute interlude, the audience moved to the lobby for refreshments before the second act began.”
complex
“The brief interlude of peace between the two wars allowed the nation to rebuild its infrastructure, though the underlying political tensions remained largely unresolved.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of' to describe the nature of the break, such as an 'interlude of calm'.
Real-World Examples
“The contest was first held in 1983, inspired by an alcohol-fuelled conversation in a pub, and has been held every year since 1997 apart from an interlude during Covid.” “That Frank is almost a forgotten figure owes much to the Igor Tudor interlude, a misadventure that resembled a disaster movie.” Etymology
Latin inter- (“between”) + ludo (“to play”)
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/interlude