# interrupt

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˌɪntəˈɹʌpt/ · frequency rank #12,796

## Definitions
1. To disturb or halt (an ongoing process or action, or the person performing it) by interfering suddenly, especially by speaking.
2. To divide; to separate; to break the monotony of.
3. To assert to (a computer) that an exceptional condition must be handled.

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

## Easily confused with
- **interrupted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/interrupt-vs-interrupted)
- **intercept** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intercept-vs-interrupt)

## Common misspellings (12)
`inetrrupt`, `innterrupt`, `interrput`, `interruppt`, `interruptt`, `interrutp`, `interupt`, `interurpt`, `intrerupt`, `intterrupt`, `itnerrupt`, `niterrupt`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/interrupt