hiatus

noun

hī-ˈā-təs How to pronounce hiatus (audio)
Definition of hiatusnext
1
as in gap
an open space in a barrier (as a wall or hedge) steam was rising from a hiatus in the ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in void
an incomplete or deficient area a hiatus in the law which prevented the district attorney from prosecuting the offenders

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in interruption
a break in continuity a three-year hiatus before the fifth book in the series appeared

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hiatus Savannah took a long hiatus from her hosting job at Today during the initial search for her mom. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Aug. 2026 Čaládi was watching from afar during a one-year hiatus with another Slovakian team, HK Dukla Michalovce, but will return as HK Nitra’s new coach for the coming season. — Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 While the group continues to explode in popularity, KATSEYE is making news in recent months just as much for the volatility of its lineup, with multiple members going on hiatus. — Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2026 Hence the band’s current hiatus—and Mandy’s current solo reemergence. — Arsenio Orteza, SPIN, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hiatus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hiatus
  1. gap
  2. void
  3. interruption
  4. hole
  5. interval
  6. pause
Noun
  • Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have uncovered a new processor attack that can bypass defenses in Intel and AMD chips by exploiting a security gap lasting only a handful of instructions.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That’s not an easy gap to close, especially in a state with strict budget caps.
    — Theo Peck-Suzuki, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of gap
Noun
  • Van Noy, 35, will fill a major void for the Vikings as depth behind starting edge rushers Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The result is an enigmatic relationship between figure and ground, mass and void.
    — Katy Barkan, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of void
Noun
  • Kamayan, the acclaimed Filipino restaurant on Buford Highway, moved to a new space next door to its original location but never experienced an interruption of service, so it is not included in the list of new openings below.
    — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Across the country, others might be meeting the work requirements but miss the notice to renew in the mail and as a result, experience an interruption in coverage.
    — Abdullah Shihipar, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of interruption
Noun
  • McIlroy surged into the top-10 on Saturday with a 7-under 63, powered by nine birdies, including three in his final four holes.
    — Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers engineered an additional GaN layer that naturally creates a second sheet containing mobile holes, called a two-dimensional hole gas, or 2DHG.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of hole
Noun
  • By contrast, Hims ships larger quantities of products at less frequent intervals for a discount.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Korn says that Miller would call at the two hour mark, then 20 minutes later, and in decreasing intervals until Mica was home.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of interval
Noun
  • The Appalachian Trail Conservancy defines a thru-hike as completing all of the trail’s sections in any order within a year, allowing for pauses.
    — Holly Ramer, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This summer's pause in data reporting for Somalia came at a particularly precarious time.
    — Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of pause

Browse Nearby Words

heydays
hiatus
hiatuses
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Hiatus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hiatus. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on hiatus

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hiatus

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All