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intermission

intermission

38 3.9
A short break during a performance or meeting when people can rest
  • noun
  • /ˌɪntərˈmɪʃən/
: 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.