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

And this kind of wholesome content offers respite from endless headlines of wars and disasters. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026

Reduced rates by the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and Bank of England would offer respite not just for their own economies but also those of developing countries that borrow in foreign currencies to attract global investors. —Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 25 Mar. 2026

Adjective

Comfort Care, a respite agency in San Diego, donated its time and set up indoor activity stations featuring face painting, bubbles and crafts for children. —Amy Stark Shireman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026

The city of Detroit sent out a list of recreation centers and public library branches available as respite spots during regular business hours. —Nushrat Rahman, Freep.com, 22 Jan. 2026

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