intermission
C1Formal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A short, scheduled break or pause between parts of a performance, event, or activity.
Any temporary pause or cessation in an ongoing process, activity, or state.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily associated with scheduled, formal breaks in performances (theatre, cinema, concerts). Can be used metaphorically for pauses in processes (e.g., warfare). Less common for informal, personal breaks, where 'break' or 'pause' is preferred.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'interval' is overwhelmingly preferred for theatre, cinema, and concerts. In US English, 'intermission' is the dominant term for these contexts.
Connotations
UK: 'Intermission' can sound formal or slightly archaic/theatrical. US: 'Intermission' is standard and neutral for performance breaks.
Frequency
High frequency in US English for performance contexts; low frequency in UK English in the same contexts, where 'interval' is used.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
There is/will be an intermissionThe play has an intermissionWe took an intermissionduring the intermissionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Without intermission (continuously)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in reports: 'an intermission in trade negotiations'.
Academic
Used in historical/arts contexts: 'an intermission in hostilities', 'the opera's long intermission'.
Everyday
Mainly in the context of going to the cinema, theatre, or a long concert.
Technical
In broadcasting/performance scheduling: 'insert an intermission at the 45-minute mark'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The play does not intermission.
- Shall we intermission here for tea?
American English
- The director chose to intermission the three-act play.
- We'll intermission after the second scene.
adverb
British English
- The play continued intermissionlessly for two hours.
- (Rarely used)
American English
- The film was shown intermissionlessly. (Rare/Formal)
- (Rarely used)
adjective
British English
- The intermission period was noisy.
- Intermission activities are listed in the programme.
American English
- The intermission music started.
- Grab an intermission snack at the concession stand.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The film has an intermission. We can buy popcorn then.
- The teacher gave us a short intermission during the long lesson.
- There will be a 20-minute intermission after the first act of the play.
- The meeting continued without intermission for three hours.
- During the intermission, critics debated the merits of the first half's performance.
- The treaty brought only a brief intermission in the border conflicts.
- The conductor insisted on an intermission to allow the audience to reflect on the dense first movement.
- This period of economic growth was merely an intermission before the next crisis.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
INTERRUPTion + MISSION = INTERMISSION. Think of a mission being temporarily interrupted for a break.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTINUOUS ACTIVITY IS A JOURNEY / PERFORMANCE (The journey/performance has a scheduled stop/pause).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'интермиссия' (rare/technical). The direct equivalent for a theatre break is 'антракт'. For a general pause, 'перерыв' is more common.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'intermission' for a work coffee break (use 'break').
- Saying 'intermission time' instead of 'intermission' or 'time for the intermission'.
- In UK English, using 'intermission' in casual conversation about cinema (use 'interval').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'intermission' LEAST likely to be used in modern British English?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. Its core use is for scheduled breaks in performances. It can be used metaphorically for other pauses (e.g., in war, activity), but this is less common.
In meaning, very little. In usage, it's a major UK/US difference. 'Interval' is standard in the UK and some Commonwealth countries for performance breaks. 'Intermission' is standard in the US. In the UK, 'intermission' sounds formal or old-fashioned in this context.
It's unusual and would sound overly formal or humorous. Use 'break', 'recess', or 'pause' instead. 'Intermission' implies a scheduled pause in a formal, presented event.
Yes. You can have 'an intermission', 'two intermissions', etc. It is almost always used as a countable noun.
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