interim 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of interimnext
1
as in temporary
intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time putting up some students in local motels is obviously just an interim solution to the college's housing shortage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in provisional
serving in a position for the time being will serve as interim head of the police department until the investigation is completed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

interim

2 of 2

noun

ˈin-tə-rəm How to pronounce interim (audio)
as in interval
a break in continuity there was a brief interim in the proceedings while everyone got organized

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 interim
Adjective
Following the interim deals, Musk's satellite internet business in July last year got a license to launch its services in India. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 His big break came in 2015, when the Padres promoted him from their triple A team in El Paso to take over for Bud Black as interim manager. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Noun
An Iranian negotiator said Tehran was suspending its commitments to the interim dealsigned about a month ago and aimed at permanently ending the fighting. — Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 18 July 2026 Meanwhile, the Heated Rivalry craze treks on during the interim between seasons. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for interim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for interim
  1. temporary
  2. provisional
  3. interval
  4. transitional
  5. acting
  6. interruption
  7. hiatus
  8. gap
Adjective
  • Consequently, allowing road vehicles to utilize red diesel without penalty would effectively function as a temporary tax reduction for diesel consumers.
    — , CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Typically made in days or weeks, emergency orders are designed to be temporary, lasting only as cases continue to play out in lower courts.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of temporary
Adjective
  • Police said in an initial statement on Saturday that an 18-year-old man, whose vehicle had a p-plate (indicating the driver holds a provisional or probationary license) attached, was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
    — Colin Millar, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The Athletic has reported that ESPN has secured Buck to a new deal and that Amazon has signed Kirk Herbstreit, who also calls college game at ESPN, to provisional terms.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of provisional
Noun
  • Since 1972, timekeepers have added 27 positive leap seconds to UTC, at very irregular intervals.
    — Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Named Maai after a Japanese term (ma-ai) relating to meaningful spacing, timing, or intervals, the 154-foot superyacht combines Japanese restraint with Italian conviviality to create an onboard environment that can be both zen and buzzy.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of interval
Adjective
  • In 2025, there were 630 units of shelter and transitional housing for families in the county, down from 769 the year before, according to the most recent federal data.
    — Nicole Santa Cruz, ProPublica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • My stand-out category was the outerwear—a point of interest for any New Yorker subjected to increasingly fickle temperatures—with both transitional pieces and heavier, winter-ready coats on the racks.
    — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of transitional
Adjective
  • The vocal and acting prowess of the cast stands out, in a large-scale production that matches the level of major international musicals.
    — Franchesca Guim, Billboard, 30 Sep. 2026
  • More acting credits of Young-White include Rough Night, Companion, Someone Great, The Threesome and Only Murders in the Building.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of acting
Noun
  • If every interruption becomes a priority, planning gradually disappears.
    — Julien Fortuit, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The five original Nobel Prizes were created under the terms of Swedish inventor and industrialist Alfred Nobel’s will and have been awarded since 1901, with only limited interruptions, chiefly during World War I and World War II.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of interruption
Noun
  • Just look at the way Manon Bannerman’s hiatus from KATSEYE has dominated discourse around the group for nearly eight months and counting.
    — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Danny Wimmer Presents, the group behind GoldenSky and Aftershock in Sacramento, announced the dates for the festival’s return following a two-year hiatus.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of hiatus
Noun
  • The new version centers on Dalin, a single mother who designs bridal gowns and whose devotion to her job has opened a gap between her and her 10-year-old daughter Mina.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • But the artist has left gaps where the musician had personal photos of friends and family framed.
    — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of gap

Phrases Containing interim

Browse Nearby Words

intergalactic
interim
interims
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Interim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/interim. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All