interval

interval — noun

1. the period of time that passes from the end of one event to the beginning of the

1.nounB1
Definition

the period of time that passes from the end of one event to the beginning of the next one

Example

A long interval passed between Mira's phone call and the delivery van's arrival.

collocation: long interval / short interval / brief interval

Imran filled the short interval between his jog and his shower with gentle stretches.

Common collocations
  • long interval
  • short interval
  • brief interval
  • interval of time
Synonyms
  • gap

    less formal and can refer to an unintended or accidental space; 'interval' implies a measured or planned period

  • pause

    shorter and suggests a temporary stop in the middle of something, not necessarily between two distinct events

  • break

    more informal and often implies rest or recreation, while 'interval' is more neutral

Grammar Patterns

interval between [noun] and [noun]

Usage Note

Countable but most often used in singular form. The plural is more common in sense 3 (at intervals).

Common Mistakes

There was a 10-minute gap between the two scheduled buses.
There was a 10-minute interval between the two scheduled buses.
'interval' fits better when the gap is part of a regular, measured timetable.

2. the physical distance or space that separates one object or point from another

2.nounB1
Definition

the physical distance or space that separates one object or point from another

Example

Tunde measured the interval between each fence post before driving them into the ground.

collocation: narrow interval / wide interval

The narrow interval between the two bookshelves was too small for the armchair.

Common collocations
  • narrow interval
  • wide interval
  • equal intervals
Synonyms
  • space

    more general and everyday; 'interval' sounds slightly technical

  • distance

    focuses on measurement from one point to another; 'interval' emphasises the area between

Grammar Patterns

interval between [noun] and [noun]

Common Mistakes

The interval between the two chairs was only ten centimetres.
The gap between the two chairs was only ten centimetres.
For everyday physical objects, 'gap' is more natural; 'interval' sounds technical or formal.

3. happening repeatedly with a regular amount of time or distance separating each i

3.nounB1
Definition

happening repeatedly with a regular amount of time or distance separating each instance from the next

Example

The guard checked the laboratory doors at regular intervals throughout the night.

phrase: at regular intervals

Eri heard a tapping sound at intervals of about ten seconds from the roof.

Common collocations
  • at regular intervals
  • at frequent intervals
  • at irregular intervals
  • at intervals of
Synonyms
  • regularly

    adverb covering the same idea; more direct but less precise about the periodic nature

  • periodically

    more formal and implies a fixed cycle; 'at intervals' allows for roughly regular spacing

Grammar Patterns

at intervals

at regular intervals

at intervals of [number] [unit]

Usage Note

Almost always appears as the plural noun in the fixed phrase 'at intervals'. The singular is never used in this pattern. 'At regular intervals' and 'at frequent intervals' are the most common collocations.

Common Mistakes

The bus comes at interval of ten minutes.
The bus comes at intervals of ten minutes.
Must be plural 'intervals' in this phrase.

4. a short break in the middle of a play, concert, film, or sports match, during wh

4.nounB1
Definition

a short break in the middle of a play, concert, film, or sports match, during which the audience can rest or get refreshments

Example

Christopher bought a drink and chatted with friends during the interval of the play.

phrase: during the interval

Most of the audience went to the lobby for a drink during the interval.

Common collocations
  • during the interval
  • in the interval
  • the interval bar
Synonyms
  • intermission

    the American English equivalent; also used for sports events in both varieties

  • break

    more general and informal; does not specifically mean the middle of a performance

  • half-time

    specific to sports events, especially football and rugby

Grammar Patterns

during the interval

in the interval

Usage Note

Chiefly British usage. In American English, 'intermission' is the preferred term for the break in a performance or sports event. In British English, 'interval' is standard for theatre, cinema, and concerts.

Common Mistakes

We went outside for fresh air during intermission of the play.' (in British English).
We went outside for fresh air during the interval.
In British English, 'interval' is the standard term for theatre and cinema.

5. how much higher or lower one musical note sounds compared to another, measured a

5.nounC1
Definition

how much higher or lower one musical note sounds compared to another, measured as a specific step on the scale

Example

Eli practiced singing the interval of a fifth until his voice hit both notes cleanly.

collocation: interval of a fifth / third / octave

The music teacher asked Faisal to identify the interval between the two piano notes.

Common collocations
  • interval of a fifth
  • major interval
  • minor interval
  • perfect interval
  • interval of an octave
Synonyms
  • step

    more informal and used in basic music instruction, especially for adjacent notes on a scale

  • pitch difference

    descriptive rather than a standard term; not used by musicians as a label

Grammar Patterns

interval of a [type]

[type] interval

Usage Note

Musical intervals are named by their size (e.g. second, third, fifth, octave) and quality (e.g. major, minor, perfect, diminished, augmented). The word 'interval' is often omitted when the type name is clear, e.g. 'sing a fifth' rather than 'sing the interval of a fifth'.

Common Mistakes

The interval between the two notes is a major.
The interval between the two notes is a major third.
You must specify the size (second, third, fourth, etc.), not just the quality.

6. one short, high-effort burst of physical activity that is part of a training pla

6.nounB2
Definition

one short, high-effort burst of physical activity that is part of a training plan, with periods of rest or easier movement in between

Example

Arjun ran five fast intervals on the track, each followed by a minute of slow jogging.

collocation: [number] intervals of [distance/duration]

Mira added short high-intensity intervals to her cycling routine to build speed.

Common collocations
  • high-intensity interval
  • sprint interval
  • recovery interval
  • interval training
Synonyms
  • sprint

    more specific — refers only to running at maximum speed; 'interval' covers any high-effort activity

  • rep

    short for repetition in general weight training; 'interval' implies timed effort-rest alternation

Grammar Patterns

[number] intervals of [duration]

high-intensity interval

Usage Note

In fitness contexts, 'intervals' is often used without 'training' to mean the intense segments themselves. The term appears most frequently in the plural because a session typically involves several repetitions. 'High-intensity interval training' (HIIT) is the standard name for this method.

Common Mistakes

I did ten intervals of running.
I did ten intervals of running for one minute each.
When using 'intervals' in fitness, specify the duration or distance per interval.

7. in mathematics, the group of all real numbers that lie between a lower limit and

7.nounC1
Definition

in mathematics, the group of all real numbers that lie between a lower limit and an upper limit, sometimes including either or both of those limits

Example

The problem asked Tunde to find all integers within the interval from two to eight.

collocation: interval from [number] to [number]

The teacher asked the class to graph the function over the interval from one to five.

Common collocations
  • closed interval
  • open interval
  • interval notation
  • unit interval
Synonyms
  • range

    broader term in everyday use and statistics; 'interval' has a precise definition in real analysis

  • segment

    used in geometry for a line segment, but less common for numerical sets

Grammar Patterns

interval from [number] to [number]

open interval

closed interval

Usage Note

Notation: square brackets [ ] mean the endpoint is included (closed interval), round brackets ( ) mean it is excluded (open interval). This notation is used consistently in mathematics worldwide. 'Interval' in this sense is always countable and usually singular.

Common Mistakes

The interval from 0 to 1 includes 0 and 1.' (vague).
The closed interval [0, 1] includes both 0 and 1, while the open interval (0, 1) does not.
In mathematics, precision about whether endpoints are included is essential.
Idioms

at (…) intervals

idiom

Something happens repeatedly with a specific amount of time or space between each occurrence.

The doctor asked Maya to take her medicine at four-hour intervals.

Trees were planted at regular intervals along the new road.

Word family

  • intervallic
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe a space in time between events, but they differ in formality, duration, and intention. 'Interval' suggests a measured, defined period — often part of a schedule or plan — and carries a slightly formal tone ('an interval of three months between treatments'). 'Gap' is more neutral and can refer to an accidental or unwanted empty period ('a gap in my employment history'). 'Pause' implies a temporary stop within an ongoing activity, usually short ('a pause in the conversation'). 'Break' is informal and often implies rest or a change of activity ('a coffee break'). 'Interlude' has a literary or artistic flavour, suggesting a contrasting episode within a larger whole ('a quiet interlude between meetings'). For most everyday situations, 'break' or 'gap' sound more natural; 'interval' is preferred in formal, technical, or scheduled contexts.

gap ↗pause ↗break ↗interlude ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • at intervals
  • at regular intervals
  • at short intervals
  • during the interval
  • interval training

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

'Interval' comes from the Latin word 'intervallum', which originally meant 'the space between the walls of a fortification'. It is formed from 'inter-' (between) and 'vallum' (a rampart or defensive wall). In ancient Rome, soldiers used this term for the measured gaps between the defensive structures of a military camp. Over time, the word broadened to mean any space or period between two things — whether physical distance, a stretch of time, or even the difference between musical notes. The mathematical sense developed in the 17th century as formal notation for number ranges was established.