What does "interval" mean?
A distance in space.
Interval
/ˈɪntəvəl/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A distance in space.
- Grammar: interval is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: abeyance, academic term, aftermaths, amount.
- Useful contrasts: ordinal attribute data, ordinal data, no span.
- Usage evidence: During the interval, Takashi and Harumi got a drink at the theater bar.
How to use "interval"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "interval" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "interval" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "interval" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "interval" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "interval" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abeyance" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "interval", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A distance in space.
"'Twixt host and host but narrow space was left, / A dreadful interval."
- 2 the distance between things wordnet
- 3 A period of time.
"the interval between contractions during childbirth"
- 4 a set containing all points (or all real numbers) between two given endpoints wordnet
- 5 The difference (a ratio or logarithmic measure) in pitch between two notes, often referring to those two pitches themselves (otherwise known as a dyad).
Show 6 more definitions
- 6 the difference in pitch between two notes wordnet
- 7 A connected section of the real line which may be empty or have a length of zero.
- 8 a definite length of time marked off by two instants wordnet
- 9 An intermission. British, India
- 10 half time, a scheduled intermission between the periods of play.
"Spain made three substitutions at the interval, sending on former Arsenal captain Fabregas, Chelsea's Juan Mata and Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina for Xavi, David Silva and Casillas."
- 11 Either of the two breaks, at lunch and tea, between the three sessions of a day's play.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"During the interval, Takashi and Harumi got a drink at the theater bar."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "interval"?
Common synonyms include: abeyance, academic term, aftermaths, amount, aperture, arrearage.
How do you use "interval" in a sentence?
During the interval, Takashi and Harumi got a drink at the theater bar.
How do you pronounce "interval"?
Pronounced /ˈɪntəvəl/.
Etymology
From Middle English interval, intervalle, from Old French intervalle, entreval, from Latin intervallum (“space between, interval, distance, interval of time, pause, difference; literally, space between two palisades or walls”), from inter (“between”) + vallum (“palisade, wall”).