as in to hesitate
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
he paused for a moment to regain his composure
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in lull
a momentary halt in an activity
there was a brief pause for applause in her speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
the question caught the professor off guard, and there was a pause before he responded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pause
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2026
That matters for people who cannot afford to pause their income or take on debt.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
Michael Casey,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
The city officially enacted the pause a few days later, after which the three employees were asked to attend separate Zoom meetings with an Amazon HR rep.
—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pause
Verb
If a supervisor pushes, repeat the plan and pause briefly.
—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2026
That matters for people who cannot afford to pause their income or take on debt.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
20 June 2026
Noun
About half the large panels at the outdoor exhibit had been restored before a February pause in the work.
—
Michael Casey,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
The city officially enacted the pause a few days later, after which the three employees were asked to attend separate Zoom meetings with an Amazon HR rep.
—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
19 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause
Verb
-
When asked which member of the family is the best soccer player, Theo didn't hesitate.
-
When an agreement offers nothing to the Iranian people, why would the regime hesitate to intensify its crackdown?
Noun
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But by Sunday morning, residents in southern Lebanon reported a lull in Israeli strikes.
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Intense fighting broke out on Friday morning after a relative lull in fighting following the announcement of the MOU.
Noun
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With far less hair, Ella’s green eyes seemed greener, like those of the feral black cats that roamed their hamlet, meowing for table scraps, which were often given without hesitation.
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The result is a workplace trapped between urgency and hesitation.
Verb
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Puncture wounds are a classic example, but lacerations, fractures that break the skin, burns, crush injuries and even relatively minor cuts can also pose a risk if they are contaminated with dirt or debris.
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Noun
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The toys clanked, the players held their breath and onlookers whispered strategies on the sidelines – until a winner was crowned.
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Simón’s new film — introspective, often visually breath-stopping, and lensed with glittering coastal beauty by cinematographer Hélène Louvart — premiered at Cannes 2025 in competition, went on to play at myriad festivals, and is only now opening in the United States from Janus Films.
Noun
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Part of it is a hesitancy to trade veterans on expiring contracts (prior to this season’s trades with Buffalo) to get picks back.
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Another common problem for leaders is dealing with the pressure to innovate or the hesitancy to invest from the board.
Noun
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The breakdown came after years of increasingly frequent complaints about train delays and service interruptions.
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Community members repeatedly told the Fort Worth school district to reinstate former principal Shayma Alzubi — with a few interruptions — during a board meeting Tuesday.
Noun
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That hesitance in the Republican Party coexists with palpable relief that there’s a ceasefire agreement in the Middle East after months of strikes on Iran.
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Others, like Choi, believe that knowledge gaps are to blame for donor hesitance to get involved.
Cite this Entry
“Pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pause. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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