Skip to main content
interval

interval

83 3.5
A period of time between two events
  • noun
  • /ˈɪntərvəl/
: intervalo
  • Technology adoption and acceptance were then measured at various intervals after the training intervention.
  • time interval
  • regular intervals
  • minute interval

But anytime you're learning something, it pays to have random intervals in which you stop and do nothing.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Both houses of Parliament reassembled in New Delhi this morning... after an interval of six weeks.

  • Set them up at regular intervals.

  • A difference of nearly one time interval may not seem like much.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Care to wait a decent interval?

  • And I am allowed to visit her at frequent intervals.

  • Cows were milked twice daily with an interval of 12 hours at all three farms.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Buffaloes were milked twice daily with an interval of approximately 12 hours at all the farms.

    Academic text (2013)
  • A more efficient journal review process and subsequent publication turnover interval could reduce publication lag time.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Parents were contacted, and baseline interval observation data was collected to inform the team's decision-making.

    Academic text (2011)
  • After an interval of two hours, the concert will resume for the second act.

Synonyms

period
vsinterval
∞ 2.1

A length of time with a clear start and end, like a class or game segment

is the basic measurable separation without added characteristics
space
vsinterval
381 3.1

A period of time between two events

is the neutral technical term for such temporal gaps
time period
vsinterval
93 2.2

A length of time that includes certain events

refers instead to the simple separation between two moments
interim
vsinterval
31 5.4

The time between one event and the next

is a neutral measurable gap that does not imply temporariness
time interval
vsinterval
4 3.3

A period between two events that you can measure

is the general word for measurable separations between moments
timespan
vsinterval
1 3.4

A period of time between a start and an end

focuses instead on the gap separating two distinct moments
spacing
vsinterval
1 3.2

Time between two repeated events like doses or meetings

concerns the single separation between two events rather than repeats

Compounds

A period between two events that you can measure

bounded interval
  • Specialized
7.2

A part of the number line that includes both end points

closed interval
  • Specialized
7.3

All numbers from one number to another including both ends

lunitidal interval
  • Specialized
9.9

Time between the moon being highest in the sky at a place and the next high tide there

musical interval
  • Specialized
4.8

The difference in how high or low two notes are in music

open interval
  • Specialized
8.2

A set of numbers between two points that does not include the end points

sub-interval
  • Specialized
7.6

A smaller interval that lies entirely inside a larger interval

9.2

A range of numbers that has no end on one or both sides

How Long

era
775 2.5
span
89 3.1
period
∞ 2.1
interval
83 3.5
moment
∞ 1.0
instant
232 1.0

Surface Forms

interval singular
intervals plural

Etymology

Interval comes from Latin parts inter- ('between') and a word for the space between walls, and this inter- is the same 'between' you see in international. So, an interval is a time 'gap' between events, like the break in a concert.