Interrupt vs They interfered with hospital service

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Interrupt

Top 2,000 (common)B2verb

They interfered with hospital service

Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Interrupt
 InterruptThey interfered with hospital service
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˌɪntəˈrʌpt/","/ˌɪntəˈrʌpts/","/ˌɪntəˈrʌptɪd/","/ˌɪntəˈrʌptɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɪntəˈrʌpt/","/ˌɪntəˈrʌpts/","/ˌɪntəˈrʌptɪd/","/ˌɪntəˈrʌptɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //ˌɪntəˈfɪə//🇺🇸 //ˌɪntərˈfɪr//
Meaningto stop someone while they are speaking or doing somethingThey got in the way of the hospital's work.
ExamplePlease do not interrupt me while I am speaking.They interfered with hospital service during the critical situation.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsimpatiently, rudely, angrily, be sorry to, (not) dare (to), with, get interruptedinterfere with rights, interfere with plans, interfere with progress, interfere with communication
Antonymslisten, allow, support-
Common mistakesUsing 'interrupt' incorrectly when meaning to 'wait' or 'pause'., Confusing 'interrupt' with 'interject', which implies a more formal or thoughtful interruption., Saying 'interrupting to someone' instead of 'interrupting someone'.Confused with 'intervene', which means to get involved positively., Using 'interfere' without 'with', as it always requires this preposition., Misunderstanding the seriousness of 'interfere' – it implies disruption.
Usage notesUse 'interrupt' when talking about breaking into someone's conversation or action. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but be cautious in formal settings as it may be seen as rude if done excessively.Use 'interfere' when someone is causing problems or disruption. Generally used in a neutral context, but can be negative.

See it in real clips

They interfered with hospital service

Frequently asked questions: Interrupt vs They interfered with hospital service

What's the difference between Interrupt and They interfered with hospital service?

Interrupt: to stop someone while they are speaking or doing something They interfered with hospital service: They got in the way of the hospital's work.

Which is more common: Interrupt and They interfered with hospital service?

Interrupt is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Interrupt: Please do not interrupt me while I am speaking. They interfered with hospital service: They interfered with hospital service during the critical situation.

Can I use Interrupt and They interfered with hospital service interchangeably?

Not always. Interrupt and They interfered with hospital service are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons