interrupted
/ˌɪn.təˈrʌpt/ (bre, ipa) · [ˌɪntɚˈʌptɪd] /ˌɪn.t̬əˈrʌpt/ (ame, ipa) · [ˌɪntɚˈʌptɪd] /ˌin-tə-ˈrəp-təd/ (ame, mw)
interrupted — verb
- interruptedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- interrupteds3rd person singular
- interrupteding-ing form
- interruptededpast simple
1. to make a person who is talking stop for a moment because someone said or did so
to make a person who is talking stop for a moment because someone said or did something.
Noor interrupted the coach to ask whether practice would move indoors.
interrupt + person to ask a question
During the trial, the judge interrupted Leo before he finished the answer.
A fire alarm interrupted Beatriz while she explained the final slide.
Christopher apologized after he interrupted Talia in front of the whole class.
Ryo was interrupted twice by phone calls during the video interview.
- let finish
emphasizes allowing the speaker to complete what they are saying
- listen
focuses on staying silent and hearing the speaker out
文法句型
interrupted + person
interrupted + person + to + verb
be interrupted by + cause
用法筆記
The object is the person who was speaking. Add the reason with 'to' + verb or name the cause with 'by'. Unlike sense 2, this sense focuses on the speaker, not on the whole activity.
常見錯誤
2. to make an activity, process, signal, or similar thing stop for a time before it
to make an activity, process, signal, or similar thing stop for a time before it could continue.
The outdoor concert was interrupted when strong wind knocked over two speakers.
passive: event is interrupted by a cause
A software update interrupted Matthew's payment just before the final click.
Heavy snow interrupted train service between Hsinchu and Miaoli all morning.
Lakan's sleep was interrupted by a barking dog outside the window.
The live stream was interrupted again as the campus Wi-Fi flickered.
文法句型
interrupted + activity/process
be interrupted by + cause
interrupted + service/sleep/signal
用法筆記
Usually used for activities, services, sleep, signals, or another process that was already underway. Unlike sense 1, the thing interrupted is the event itself, not the person who was speaking.
常見錯誤
interrupted — adjective
- interruptedpositive
- more interruptedcomparative
- most interruptedsuperlative
1. describes something that stopped in the middle instead of continuing smoothly, e
describes something that stopped in the middle instead of continuing smoothly, even if it started again later.
After three phone calls, Noor returned to her interrupted breakfast in the kitchen.
interrupted + meal after a pause
The village doctor warned that interrupted sleep can slow a child's recovery.
interrupted + sleep
Visitors faced interrupted train service after lightning hit the control room.
Ryo saved the interrupted download and tried again after lunch.
The archive kept the interrupted interview because the speaker never returned.
- broken
broader and can describe something stopped, cut, or incomplete
- paused
often suggests a shorter or more deliberate stop
- discontinued
more formal and often used for services, products, or official programs
- continuous
keeps going without a break in time
- unbroken
emphasizes that nothing stopped the flow
文法句型
interrupted + sleep/service/meal
interrupted + noun
用法筆記
Common with sleep, service, study, conversation, meals, and downloads. It points to a stoppage in time, unlike sense 2, which describes visible or rhythmic gaps inside the thing itself.
常見錯誤
2. describes a line, pattern, rhythm, or similar thing that is broken by gaps inste
describes a line, pattern, rhythm, or similar thing that is broken by gaps instead of running in one smooth, even way.
The mural used interrupted blue lines to suggest waves moving in wind.
interrupted + lines in a visual pattern
An interrupted white stripe ran along the edge of the bike lane.
interrupted + stripe with visible gaps
The old record had an interrupted rhythm where the needle kept jumping.
On the pottery bowl, interrupted circles framed the painted fish near the rim.
From far away, the fence looked like an interrupted dark line across the hill.
- discontinuous
more formal and technical for something not running without breaks
- broken
common word for something no longer in one unbroken piece or line
- dotted
works when the gaps create separate marks rather than one solid line
- continuous
runs evenly with no gaps
- solid
emphasizes a complete line or band with no breaks
文法句型
interrupted + line/pattern/rhythm
interrupted + noun
用法筆記
Usually appears before nouns such as line, pattern, rhythm, stripe, or border. It describes gaps within the form itself, not a single outside event that stopped an activity.