interval

noun

ˈin-tər-vəl How to pronounce interval (audio)
Definition of intervalnext
1
as in interruption
a break in continuity there were intervals of thousands of years between the major ice ages

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) unable to find my way out of the maze, I cheated and squeezed through a convenient interval in the hedge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of interval The available checking intervals include hourly, daily, weekly and monthly options. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026 The natural chaparral’s ability to quickly regrow has enabled such a quick fire return interval in the Santa Monica Mountains. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026 Doctors typically suggest about three weeks to recover without any flying, giving Leo just the interval needed before the trip. — CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 The Edge can display in-workout metrics and pace targets, heart rate zones for HIIT intervals, and other live figures to show you how your training is going. — New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for interval
Recent Examples of Synonyms for interval
  1. interruption
  2. gap
  3. hiatus
  4. hole
  5. pause
Noun
  • These checkpoints allow a calculation to resume after an interruption instead of restarting from scratch.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
  • However, travelers could still face disruptions on the ground, with the embassy advising Americans to check for Metro station closures and other transportation interruptions before heading out.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of interruption
Noun
  • Democrats still have an advantage in voting by mail, but that gap is smaller than in 2022 as more Democrats shift to early in-person voting.
    — A Martínez, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The sell-off came despite the positive results, underscoring the gap between the treatment's clinical promise and investor expectations for its commercial potential.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of gap
Noun
  • Gillies has worked steadily since Silverchair’s hiatus, including the side project Tambalane with Wes Carr, his band Bento, whose debut Diamond Days arrived in 2012, and solo releases.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The ponytail may only be on hiatus, but Bobiana is making a very strong case for an extended stay.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of hiatus
Noun
  • In higher-dimensional gravity, certain black-hole-like objects, such as black strings, can become unstable and fragment.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Sabbatini played his final six holes in 6-under par, which included his 25-foot eagle putt from the fringe on the par-5 15th hole.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of hole
Noun
  • While older generations may interpret limited eye contact, a flat expression or a pause before responding as rude, lazy or unprofessional, that might not be a younger person’s intent at all, Leahy said.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The pause lasted more than a year, straining cattle supply and contributing to record-high beef prices.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of pause

Browse Nearby Words

intertwists
interval
intervals
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Interval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/interval. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on interval

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about interval

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All