Synonyms of time-out

time-out

noun

ˈtīm-ˈau̇t 

as in winter

a period of often involuntary inactivity or idleness

we need to take a time-out from our relationship to think things over

Synonyms & Similar Words

• winter
• break
• downtime
• lull
• pause
• layoff
• recess
• interruption
• suspension
• breath
• breather
• latency
• suspense
• abeyance
• quiescence
• dormancy
• doldrums

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of time-out

And some biz owners have struggled to set up accounts due to time-out errors and unclear instructions, per a local Reddit thread of gripes about it. —Karri Peifer, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025

Just over a minute after San Jose fell behind 3-0 at the 9:50 mark of the first, Askarov, during a media time-out, went to the team’s bench to talk with head athletic trainer Jaime Garcia, then left the ice and returned to the team’s dressing room. —Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025

Consult with your day-care provider about whether time-outs involving quiet moon-sand play would encourage more regulated decision-making. —Cora Frazier, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025

At the time of our conversation near the end of the first month of 2025, as it’s been a week into a second term for Donald Trump and close to three weeks since wildfires started raging through Los Angeles, Garcelle Beauvais wants to call a time-out. —Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 28 Jan. 2025