parenthesis

noun

pə-ˈren(t)-thə-səs How to pronounce parenthesis (audio)
Definition of parenthesisnext
as in interval
a break in continuity there was a parenthesis of silence when the microphone momentarily lost power

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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 parenthesis The number in parentheses is what percentage of ballots the candidate was on last year. — Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2025 Top 10 With records through Monday and previous rankings in parentheses. — Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025 Listen to this article San Diego Union-Tribune Boys Basketball Rankings First-place votes in parentheses; points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis: Team; Record; Points; Last 1. — John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025 The Gulf of Mexico name will appear first for these users, followed by the Gulf of America name in parentheses, said two people with knowledge of the company’s plans, who were not authorized to speak publicly. — Nico Grant, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for parenthesis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parenthesis
  1. interval
  2. interruption
  3. hiatus
  4. gap
  5. pause
Noun
  • Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until warm.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Postecoglou replaced Brennan Johnson and Yves Bissouma at the interval for Son and Bergvall, and Spurs were considerably better in the second half.
    — Elias Burke, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of interval
Noun
  • Piker talked, almost without interruption, for four more hours, holding forth about recent internet drama, a documentary about the history of NATO, and the UnitedHealthcare C.E.O.’s assassin, who had not yet been identified.
    — Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The proposal also resets relations in the U.S.-Russia-Ukraine triangle, after a heated late February White House clash between Trump and Zelenskyy and the temporary interruption of U.S. military aid to Kyiv seemed poised to thrust Washington deeper into the Kremlin’s orbit.
    — Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of interruption
Noun
  • The model previously made her return to the runway after a two-year hiatus at Saint Laurent’s Spring 2025 show during Paris Fashion Week in September 2024.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025
  • But that long hiatus will conclude this Saturday, March 15, when La Roux will play in Los Angeles for the start of a month-long residency.
    — David Chiu, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of hiatus
Noun
  • However, a glaring gap has emerged and must be earnestly addressed: the need for fair, accurate and relevant representation of LGBTQ people.
    — Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Idaho residents brought forward a successful ballot measure to close that gap in 2018, and Medicaid expansion has been in place in Idaho since then, the Statesman previously reported.
    — Sarah Cutler and, Idaho Statesman, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of gap
Noun
  • Since then, The Bachelorette has had 21 seasons and 23 leads (Seasons 16 and 19 had two Bachelorettes) until February 2025 when news broke that ABC had put the series on pause.
    — Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 17 Mar. 2025
  • According to fans at the show, an announcer told the crowd that the unplanned pause was due to an electrical fire and said Journey would continue the show, ABC 13 Houston reported.
    — Bailey Richards, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of pause

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Cite this Entry

“Parenthesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parenthesis. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on parenthesis

Nglish: Translation of parenthesis for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about parenthesis

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