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intermission

intermission

38 3.9
A short break during a performance or meeting when people can rest
  • noun
  • /ˌɪntərˈmɪʃən/
translation icon : intermedio
  • After the intermission, the show resumed with greater excitement.
  • a concert intermission

Only one thing, insert an extra long intermission after the second movie.

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Examples

  • And now we'll have a 15-minute intermission.

  • There will be an intermission.

  • Then came the intermission, and we went out to have a smoke.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • I think it's a good time for an intermission.

  • Only one thing, insert an extra long intermission after the second movie.

  • If the concert is short, there is no need for an intermission.

    Academic text (2010)
  • The play started at 4:30 and, with a dinner intermission, ended a little after 10 in the evening.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Then, during the intermission, the Captain excused himself to go talk to an old friend.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • There was a time when intermissions were a staple part of going to the movies.

    Blog text (4)
  • At the intermission, Dr. and Mrs. Green strolled through the lobby holding glasses of complementary champagne.

    Fiction book (2001)

Synonyms

break
vsintermission
1.0

A short rest from work or activity

is a brief pause during an event allowing rest or exit
pause
vsintermission
192 1.0

A short stop in speaking or activity

is used during events for audience rest or leaving
time out
vsintermission
46 2.3

A short break from an activity to rest or talk about what to do next

is a scheduled pause in events when people may leave or rest
entr'acte
vsintermission
9.9

A short break with a performance between the acts of a play or musical

is a short break in a performance when people can rest or leave
comfort break
vsintermission
  • UK
3.7

A short pause to use the toilet or have a brief rest

is a general event break not only for restroom needs
intersession
vsintermission
7.4

A short time between regular sessions for special meetings or classes

is a brief break during a single event rather than between sessions

Antonyms

56 3.6

An act of something keeping going without stopping

How Long

hiatus
34 6.3
recess
153 1.2
intermission
38 3.9
break
1.0
pause
192 1.0

Surface Forms

intermission singular
intermissions plural

Morphology

intermission = mission (opaque) = inter + mission

The prefix 'inter-' suggests 'between' or 'among', but the specific meaning of a 'break during a performance' is not directly derivable from 'mission'.

Etymology

Intermission comes from inter- meaning 'between' and mission from a root meaning 'send', the same root as in the word mission. So an intermission is a time 'between' parts of a show, a short break when people can rest or leave.