uninterrupted
un-in-tuh-RUP-tid
/ˌʌnɪntəˈrʌptɪd/
Without a break in continuity.
Often used to describe views, sleep, or periods of time where no external force broke the flow.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'un-' (not) + 'inter-' (between) + 'rumpere' (to break). It literally means 'not broken between'.
Word relationships
- continuous: Continuous is the state; uninterrupted emphasizes that no one or nothing stopped it.
- fragmented: Fragmented means broken into many small pieces.
Commonly confused with
- continual: Uninterrupted means zero breaks; continual means many breaks.
Word family
- interrupt (verb): To break the continuity of.
Collocations
- uninterrupted sleep
- uninterrupted view
- uninterrupted power supply
Example sentences
- "The hotel room offered an uninterrupted view of the sunset over the ocean." Describing a view.
- "After a long week, I finally managed to get eight hours of uninterrupted sleep." Describing sleep.
Memory hook
Un-Interrupted. If you don't 'interrupt' me, my speech is uninterrupted. A long, straight highway with no traffic lights.
When not to use
Don't use for things that are naturally broken into parts, like a book with chapters.
Fun facts
- A UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) is a device that keeps computers running even if the main electricity fails.
Related words
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