intermission
in-ter-MISH-uhn
/ˌɪntəˈmɪʃən/
A pause or break between parts of a play, movie, or concert.
Specifically used for planned breaks in entertainment to allow the audience to rest.
The story behind the word. Literally 'sending between.' It refers to the time sent or placed between the main acts of a performance.
Word relationships
- break: 'Break' is general; 'intermission' is specific to performances.
Commonly confused with
- interlude: An 'intermission' is a break for the audience; an 'interlude' is a short performance during that break.
Word family
- intermit (verb): To suspend or discontinue for a time.
Collocations
- brief intermission
- twenty-minute intermission
- during the intermission
Example sentences
- "During the fifteen-minute intermission, the audience crowded into the lobby for refreshments." During a long theater production.
- "Older films often featured an intermission halfway through their three-hour runtimes." A historical movie practice.
Memory hook
Think of a 'mission' to the snack bar 'inter' (between) the acts of a play. Snack time at the theater.
When not to use
Do not use for an unplanned interruption or a break in a work schedule.
Fun facts
- In the early days of cinema, intermissions were necessary to allow the projectionist to change the heavy film reels.
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