respite

1 of 3

noun

re·​spite ˈre-spət 

 also  ri-ˈspīt,

 British usually  ˈre-ˌspīt

1

: a period of temporary delay

2

: an interval of rest or relief

respite

2 of 3

verb

respited; respiting

transitive verb

1

: to grant a temporary period of relief to : grant a respite to

2

: put off, delay

respite

3 of 3

adjective

: providing or being temporary care in relief of a primary caregiver

respite care

a respite worker

Did you know?

Respite Has Latin Roots

Everyone needs a little R & R from time to time. That's where respite comes in handy: this word was first used in the 14th century to refer to a delay or extension asked for or granted for a specific reason, such as to give someone time to deliberate on a proposal. This kind of respite offered an opportunity for the kind of consideration inherent in this word's etymology: respite traces from the Latin term respectus (also the source of English's respect), which comes from respicere, a verb with both concrete and abstract meanings: "to turn around to look at" or "to regard." Within a few decades of its earliest known use, English speakers had granted respite the sense we use most often today—"a welcome break."

Examples of respite in a Sentence

Noun

But in the middle of each semester there came a short respite, separate from the traditional holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. —Martha Southgate, The Fall of Rome, 2002

Six years more of toil they had to face before they could expect the least respite, the cessation of the payments upon the house … —Upton Sinclair, The Jungle, 1906

The laborer's day ends with the going down of the sun … but his employer, who speculates from month to month, has no respite from one end of the year to the other. —Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854

The bad weather has continued without respite.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That’s why a place like The Swag is the ultimate respite for them. —Ronny Maye, Essence, 21 Apr. 2025

With more conflict seemingly inevitable, some analysts question whether the brief respites justify the concessions. —Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025

Adjective

Many navigate daily challenges without access to therapies, respite, or appropriate education. —Andi Putt, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025

Its initiatives have included distribution of more than 260 million meals annually, respite services for more than 1.5 million caregivers, and assistance for hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities. —Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, and Adjective

Middle English respit, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin respectus, from Latin, act of looking back — more at respect

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1978, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for respite

• despot

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Kids Definition

respite

noun

re·​spite

ˈres-pət,

 also  ri-ˈspīt

1

: a short delay : postponement

2

: a period of rest or relief

Legal Definition

respite

noun

res·​pite ˈres-pət, ri-ˈspīt 

in the civil law of Louisiana : a judicially approved or enforced agreement that provides a debtor with time or a delay for the payment of creditors