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Definition of pause
1 : a temporary stop
2a : a break in a verseb : 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
4a : the sign denoting a fermatab : 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
Explore M-W
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
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And while spending $9 on one sandwich at McDonald's may give you pause — this is the land of the dollar menu, after all! — consider that other lobster rolls sell for $20 or more, so a $10 meal at the Golden Arches is kiiind of a steal.
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But the weeks offer an opportunity to give the franchise pause or attract the attention of opposing scouts if he is cut.
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By Ben-Oni's estimate, IDT experiences hundreds of attacks a day on its businesses, but perhaps only four each year that give him pause.
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Most any religious figure could make the case for restraint if for no other reason than generosity and compassion require a pause in self-obsession.
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Eye-catching sculptures dot the county’s landscape — from the harbor to university libraries — and give locals pause to spark their intellect, revive childhood memories, and sometimes just provide a smile.
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Things are worrisome, or troubling, or raise serious questions, or give him pause.
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Along about the moment Sal Perez fouled off the seventh offering in a nine-pitch duel in the eighth inning on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium, the scan button in his mind came to a pause.
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The delay follows a 90-day pause ordered earlier this year.
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
pause
Definition of pause
paused
;pausing
intransitive verb
1 : to stop temporarily
2 : to linger for a time
transitive verb
: to cause to pause : stop
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
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As a result of the petition, many theaters, including Steppenwolf, paused to evaluate our values and beliefs and share them through impassioned conversations on social media.
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Our government hosts tried to discourage us from visiting Peshawar, the ancient walled city to our north, built at the foot of — here my father paused for effect — the Khyber Pass.
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On Memorial Day, America pauses to remember those who gave their lives in service to the country.
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So Crosby paused in the giddy aftermath of Pittsburgh’s 3-2 victory over Ottawa in Game 7 of the helter-skelter Eastern Conference finals to do something the two-time Hart Trophy winner almost never does.
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Often, legislative action has paused as the Revisor’s Office worked through its assignment.
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One measure in particular gives market watchers pause.
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Even thought $120 million was put back into the legislation last week, the impact from the debate is giving some lawmakers pause about future consideration to assist in disaster recovery.
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Then came the real twists: One day, Stenerud was running stadium steps as part of his ski training and paused to kick a ball around with Bobcats kicker Dale Jackson.
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.
First Known Use of pause
15th century
PAUSE Defined for English Language Learners
pause
playDefinition of pause for English Language Learners
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: a temporary stop : a period of time in which something is stopped before it is started again
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: a control that you use when you want to stop a recorded song, movie, etc., for a short time
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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
Definition of pause for English Language Learners
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: to stop doing something for a short time before doing it again
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: to cause (a recorded song, movie, etc.) to stop for a short time by pushing a button on a device
PAUSE Defined for Kids
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
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
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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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