intercept

The word “intercept” means to stop or catch something before it reaches its destination. In plain terms, to stop something mid-way, before it gets where it was headed.

“Intercept” is pronounced ihn-tuh-SEHPT (/ɪntɚˈsɛpt/ in IPA).

Here is “intercept” used in a sentence: “The goalkeeper intercepted the pass before it reached the striker.”

“Intercept” is a verb.

The word “intercept” comes from Latin. From Latin interceptum, past participle of intercipere, "to take between" (inter-, "between" + capere, "to take, seize").

“Intercept” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Intercept means to stop or catch something before it reaches its destination, such as intercepting a message or a pass in sports. Interrupt means to break in on an action or on someone speaking, which does not necessarily involve catching or redirecting something in transit.

In sports like American football, an intercept, or interception, occurs when a defender catches a pass intended for the opposing team, stopping it from reaching its intended receiver. The general meaning of stopping something before it arrives applies directly to this sporting sense.

Beyond physical objects like balls or letters, intercept is commonly used for communications, such as intercepting a phone call, email, or radio signal, meaning the message is captured before reaching its intended recipient. The word applies to anything traveling toward a destination that gets stopped along the way.