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interrupt

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˌɪntɝˈəpt// UK //ˈɪntəɹˌʌpt// in·ter·rupt General-service

v. to stop someone while they are talking or doing something. You might do this to ask a question or because something else is happening.

v. to break the continuity of an action, speech, or process. Often implies a sudden or unwelcome intrusion into a sequence.


SIMPLE

Please do not interrupt me while I am speaking.

CONTEXTUAL

The loud alarm began to interrupt our meeting every few minutes, making it impossible to finish the presentation.

COMPLEX

While the speaker attempted to outline the new policy, several protesters began to interrupt with shouted questions, forcing the moderator to pause the session and call for order.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English interrupten, derived from Latin interruptus, past participle of interrumpere (“to break apart/off, interrupt”), from inter (“between”) + rumpere (“to break”).

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.

Pitfall

He interrupted to me.He interrupted me.Interrupt is a transitive verb and does not require a preposition before the object.

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