interrupt

To interrupt someone means to stop them while they're speaking or doing something.

When we talk, it's common for one person to be going on and on, sharing a story or explaining something. Another person might jump in and start talking before the first person is finished. That's an interruption! You might say to your friend, "Sorry to interrupt, but I just remembered something important." Or maybe you're playing a game with someone and they're concentrating on their turn - if you suddenly ask them a question or make a comment, that's interrupting their focus.

Interrupting can happen in many situations. If you're watching a movie with friends, someone might shout out the punchline of a joke before it's been fully explained. In a meeting at work, one person might start speaking before another is finished. Even online, if you post something while others are still typing their responses, that could be seen as an interruption. It's usually not a big deal to interrupt occasionally, but making a habit of it can be annoying or confusing for the other person.