pause

noun

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\ ˈpȯz

\

Definition of pause

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a temporary stop

2a : 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

4a : 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

pause

verb

paused; pausing

Definition of pause (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to stop temporarily

2 : to linger for a time

transitive verb

: to cause to pause : stop

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about pause

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Examples of pause in a Sentence

Noun 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. Verb 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 on the Web: Noun Still, some initiatives give pause, and one is downright alarming. — Ephrat Livni, Quartz, "What a new US bill to prevent mass shootings gets right. And wrong.," 23 Oct. 2019 Then there’s a pause, and then the ball is snapped. — Giana Han, al, "5 things to know about Texas A&M," 19 Sep. 2019 Except there were moments that gave you pause, that showed you potential. — Dan Labbe, cleveland.com, "The Browns offense is struggling, but there’s still a lot of upside," 17 Sep. 2019 The way they were manhandled last week at home should give bettors pause, especially if the line goes over seven. — Joe Williams, USA TODAY Sportsbook Wire, "Cleveland Browns at New York Jets odds, picks and best bets [UPDATED]," 16 Sep. 2019 The program is also on pause for the other companies that want to launch their scooters until the current issues get ironed out. — Alison Dirr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Mayor Tom Barrett: E-scooters need to get off the sidewalk. Now. Or the program may be canceled.," 2 Aug. 2019 But the clinics reacted warily to the administration's enforcement pause, and the widening rift could eventually affect basic health services for many low-income women. — Author: Ricardo Alonso-zaldiver, Anchorage Daily News, "Administration pauses enforcement of abortion restriction," 22 July 2019 When the waiter asked me the question, my brain took a second-long, record-scratch pause. — Caitlin Morton, Condé Nast Traveler, "How Traveling Sober Changed the Way I Saw the World," 10 July 2019 The brake and gas pedals are also decorated with pause and play icons like an MP3 player. — Peter Valdes-dapena, CNN, "VW unveils its first electric car," 9 Sep. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The driver paused briefly north of the collision but then continued without stopping, Thompson added. — Alexa Fuenmayor, azcentral, "Woman seriously injured after hit-and-run in south Phoenix," 12 Sep. 2019 Instead, and perhaps unsurprisingly at this point, the Patriots never paused. — Alaa Abdeldaiem, SI.com, "Tom Brady, Patriots Steamroll Steelers to Make Early-Season Statement," 9 Sep. 2019 Or Paramount chairman Brad Grey, who allegedly hired a private eye, Tony Pellicano, to snoop on a producer, without pausing to think someone might find out? — Stephen Galloway, The Hollywood Reporter, "Les Moonves, Kevin Tsujihara and the Art of Hollywood Self-Sabotage," 23 Aug. 2019 Once police were on the scene, multiple witnesses said, and video surveillance showed, that police officer Christopher Ramey, one of three officers that responded, walked straight to Clemons without pausing to assess the situation. — Lily Jackson | Ljackson@al.com, al, "Jury splits Waffle House verdict: Not guilty of disorderly conduct but guilty of resisting arrest," 23 Aug. 2019 Opponents of gun rights, meanwhile, could pause to consider that gun homicides and other crimes have plummeted since the early ’90s. — Jonah Goldberg, National Review, "Putting America’s Problems in Perspective," 9 Aug. 2019 Trump paused and watched calmly from the stage as the protesters were led out of the arena. — The Enquirer, Cincinnati.com, "Mayor Cranley on President Trump's comment: 'We have bucked Ohio's decline'," 2 Aug. 2019 One example is pausing to give yourself a bear hug. — Allison Bagley, Houston Chronicle, "Houston-area schools adopt mindfulness practices to increase learning," 31 July 2019 The most successful people pause for a few seconds and then proactively decide how to respond. — Josh Linkner, Detroit Free Press, "How the most successful leaders respond in tough moments," 31 July 2019

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.