pause

noun \ ˈpȯz \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Examples: pause in a Sentence

Definition of pause

1 : a temporary stop

2 a : a break in a verse

b : a brief suspension of the voice to indicate the limits and relations of sentences and their parts

3 : temporary inaction especially as caused by uncertainty : hesitation

4 a : the sign denoting a fermata

b : a mark (such as a period or comma) used in writing or printing to indicate or correspond to a pause of voice

5 : a reason or cause for pausing (as to reconsider)

a thought that should give one pause

6 : a function of an electronic device that pauses a recording

See pause defined for English-language learners

See pause defined for kids

Examples of pause in a Sentence

There was a brief pause in the conversation.
After a pause the teacher continued the lesson.
He hit pause on the player and explained the significance of the song's lyrics.
Please hit the pause button on the remote control.

Recent Examples of pause from the Web

Few series riff this fast, and the verbal gymnastics are not shortcut with pauses that clutter.

— tim goodman, The Hollywood Reporter, "Critic's Notebook: 'Letterkenny' Is the Canadian Comedy You Didn't Know You Needed," 11 July 2018
On Twitter, Becca claimed that this hiatus was just a bathroom break, but the show definitely sold it as a dramatic pause.

— rebecca farley, refinery29.com, "The Bachelorette Season 14, Episode 7 Recap: Becca Picks A Supreme Court Nominee," 10 July 2018
And there is that kind of split and contrast there that does have a lot of people, very least, at pause.

— NBC News, "Meet the Press - July 8, 2018," 8 July 2018
Director Michael Stevenson, who is Capital Stage’s producing artistic director, has assembled a talented quartet of actors who shine with comic timing, pregnant pauses and at times startling physical humor.

— mitchel benson, sacbee, "‘Thanksgiving Play’ gone off the rails? That’s the genius in Capital Stage's comedy," 5 July 2018
And one time, a particular political candidate marching with his entourage was forced into a bit of an awkward pause.

— the kansas city star, kansascity, "Train through July 4 parade separates this Kansas candidate from his delegation," 5 July 2018
His bests are 315 pounds on the the bench (there is a pause once the bar hits the chest), 555 in the squat and 651 in the dead.

— richard obert, azcentral, "After 2 football ACL tears, Casteel's Luke Musselman finds records in powerlifting," 5 July 2018
From powerful to relaxing to sad, the unique perspectives gave those in attendance pause to stop and think.

— patricia dillon, Houston Chronicle, "Art enthusiasts celebrate, build camaraderie at ‘ArtFeel Live’ in The Woodlands," 29 June 2018
And if Friday’s Sicario sequel Day of the Soldado can make as much as the original’s $46.8 million, the actor’s 2018 output will have topped more than (dramatic pause) $1.1 billion.

— gary thompson, Philly.com, "'Sicario' star Josh Brolin on his billion dollar year, his bro Benicio, and why it's good to be bad," 28 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pause.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pause

Middle English, from Latin pausa, from Greek pausis, from pauein to stop

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

pause Synonyms

Synonyms

faltering, fence-sitting, hesitance, hesitancy, hesitation, indecision, irresolution, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, vacillation, wavering, wobbling (also wabbling);

Near Antonyms

certainty, certitude, confidence, decisiveness, determination, firmness, resoluteness, resolution, sureness;

alacrity, eagerness, readiness;

misgiving, second thought;

consideration, debate, deliberation, doubt, incertitude, indecisiveness, indetermination, uncertainness, uncertainty;

avoidance, equivocation;

aversion, disinclination, indisposition, reluctance, unwillingness;

faintheartedness, shyness, timidity, timidness;

pause

verb

Definition of pause

paused; pausing

intransitive verb

1 : to stop temporarily

2 : to linger for a time

transitive verb

: to cause to pause : stop

See pause defined for English-language learners

Examples of pause in a Sentence

She paused for a few seconds before crossing the street.
We paused briefly to look at the scenery.
He talked for over an hour without pausing.
He picked up the remote control and paused the movie.

Recent Examples of pause from the Web

Naturally, the strong wording gave many respondents pause, given that three years remain until the next round of collective bargaining.

— jorge l. ortiz, USA TODAY, "MLB players survey: Sounding off on umps, shifts, steroids - and whether to strike back," 28 June 2018
Council President Vop Osili, a Democrat like Hogsett, briefly proposed shaking up the merit board structure, but has paused potential changes while inviting community input through public forums.

— james briggs, Indianapolis Star, "Mayor Joe Hogsett backs off call for change to panel that reinstated officers who shot Aaron Bailey," 28 June 2018
Having paused construction planning on an office tower over the larger proposal, Amazon now will move ahead with it, a spokesman said after the vote.

— author: matt day, daniel beekman, Anchorage Daily News, "Seattle City Council scales down head tax on large employers in face of Amazon revolt," 15 May 2018
Scientists say activity from the most recent lava fissure that opened up has paused but dangerous fumes continue to be released.

— Fox News, "The Latest: Flammable gas moved from plant near oozing lava," 10 May 2018
This is not the first time the teens have paused their game.

— natalie dreier, ajc, "Teens stop basketball game to take knees, pay respect during funeral procession," 23 Apr. 2018
Tagovailoa’s hand injury, suffered on the first day of spring practice and aggravated last week, has paused the competition.

— andy staples, SI.com, "As Alabama's QB Situation Sits Up in the Air, Nick Saban Has Two Good Options at Hand," 19 Apr. 2018
The game clock can be paused twice during a session, allowing kids to eat, take a bathroom break or lay on the floor in the corner.

— dana burke, Houston Chronicle, "Chuck E. Cheese's game-changing new policy makes it easier to get kids out of the house," 10 July 2018
As of Sunday, four boys were confirmed rescued from the cave, before the mission was paused, according to the BBC.

— erin corbett, Fortune, "4 Boys Freed From Thailand Cave as Rescue Mission Begins," 8 July 2018

First Known Use of pause

15th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

pause Synonyms

Phrases

catch one's breath, hold one's horses;

PAUSE Defined for English Language Learners

pause

noun

Definition of pause for English Language Learners

: a temporary stop : a period of time in which something is stopped before it is started again
: a control that you use when you want to stop a recorded song, movie, etc., for a short time
music : the sign 𝄐 that is placed over or under a musical note, rest, etc., to show that it should be held longer than usual

pause

verb

Definition of pause for English Language Learners

: to stop doing something for a short time before doing it again
: to cause (a recorded song, movie, etc.) to stop for a short time by pushing a button on a device

PAUSE Defined for Kids

pause

noun \ ˈpȯz \

Definition of pause for Students

1 : a temporary stop

2 : a sign 𝄐 above a musical note or rest to show that the note or rest is to be held longer

pause

verb

Definition of pause for Students

paused; pausing

: to stop for a time : make a temporary stop

He paused, perhaps waiting for me to explain.
—Gail Carson Levine, Ella Enchanted

Learn More about pause

See words that rhyme with pause Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pause Spanish Central: Translation of pause Nglish: Translation of pause for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pause for Arabic speakers

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Definition of pause

Examples of pause in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of pause

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Synonyms

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pause

Definition of pause

Examples of pause in a Sentence

Recent Examples of pause from the Web

First Known Use of pause

pause Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

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PAUSE Defined for English Language Learners

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Definition of pause for English Language Learners

pause

Definition of pause for English Language Learners

PAUSE Defined for Kids

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Definition of pause for Students

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