What does interrupt mean?
Interrupt means to stop or disrupt someone's speech, activity, or a continuing process. Its most familiar use describes interrupting a person: someone may interrupt a speaker, a conversation, or a meeting by speaking before the other person has finished. The word can also describe an event that halts an activity, as when bad weather interrupts a ceremony or a technical fault interrupts a process. These uses are formal and informal, British and American, without significant regional differences. Although interrupting is sometimes considered impolite when done rudely, the verb itself carries no necessary negative connotation; it simply identifies an interruption. In computing, interrupt has a more specialized meaning: a signal or request that temporarily suspends a process. Interrupt is also useful because its Latin ancestry connects it to several familiar English words, including disrupt, erupt, corrupt, and rupture, all ultimately associated with breaking.
An event or signal that temporarily suspends a process, especially in computing; more generally, an act of interrupting.
"The operating system handles hardware interrupts efficiently."
The noun is uncommon in general speech but is standard in technical contexts such as computing and electronics.
To stop someone speaking or acting by interjecting or otherwise drawing attention to oneself. It can also mean to halt or disrupt the course of an activity or process.
"A noise outside interrupted the lecture."
The verb is neutral, although socially abrupt interruption may be regarded as discourteous.
The plural is standard in technical usage for individual signals or events, especially in computing.
"The program handles hardware interrupts without losing data."
Interrupt literally means "broken off": its Latin ancestor combines "between" with "break."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does interrupt come from?
The English word dates from the early 16th century and comes from Latin interruptus, the past participle of interrumper, meaning "to break into" or "to interrupt." The Latin verb combined inter-, meaning "between" or "into," with rumpere, meaning "to break." English later developed the familiar verb and the derivative interruption, while related words such as disrupt, erupt, corrupt, and rupture preserve the same broad association with breaking.
Related word forms
How interrupt is actually used
The word is neutral in meaning, but abruptly interrupting a person in conversation can imply rudeness. In computing, an interrupt is a signal or request that temporarily suspends a process.
Easily confused with interrupt
To interrupt is to interrupt someone's speech or activity, whereas to interpret is to explain the meaning of something or to render it in another form.