Interlude

//ˈɪntə(ɹ)luːd// noun, verb

noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An intervening episode, etc.
  2. 2
    a brief show (music or dance etc.) inserted between the sections of a longer performance wordnet
  3. 3
    An entertainment between the acts of a play.

    "[O]ur ovvne Statutes […] preciſely prohibit the ſatyricall depraving, traducing, or derogation of the Common Prayer-Booke, and of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in any Enterludes, Playes or Rimes, (in vvhich kinde Playes had been formerly peccant) under ſevere penalties."

  4. 4
    an intervening period or episode wordnet
  5. 5
    A short piece put between the parts of a longer composition.
Verb
  1. 1
    To provide with an interlude. transitive

    "Jimmy Jam, co-producer of Ms. Jackson’s heavily interluded and influential 1989 album, “Rhythm Nation 1814” (and producer of a forthcoming album by Usher with interludes), also defended them."

  2. 2
    perform an interlude wordnet
  3. 3
    To serve as an interlude. intransitive

    "During some brief, interluding, silent pauses in their interview thus far, Pierre had heard a soft, slow, sad, to-and-fro, meditative stepping on the floor above; […]"

Synonyms

All synonyms
entr acteabeyanceactafterpieceageanacrusis

Example

More examples

"After a brief interlude, Caesar decided to join the army once again and left Rome. While he was sailing across the sea, a group of pirates kidnapped him."

Etymology

Latin inter- (“between”) + ludo (“to play”)

Related phrases

station break

More for "interlude"

SynonymsSentencesPronunciationTranslate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciationBrowse writing guides

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.