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
Relevance
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
Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Jackson, on Friday, had briefly paused the judge’s order.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 10 Nov. 2025
On Monday, the US extended its pause on most sanctions for another 180 days.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pause
Verb
On Friday night, the 43-year-old singer paused her concert at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace to help a couple get engaged during her first full performance since Blackstock's passing in August at the age of 48 from skin cancer.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Jackson, on Friday, had briefly paused the judge’s order.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
One of the many effects of this pause has been a 4% reduction in trips flying to and from the 40 busiest airports in America, as required by the Federal Aviation Administration.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 10 Nov. 2025
On Monday, the US extended its pause on most sanctions for another 180 days.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause
Verb
-
But Maye doesn’t hesitate to break the pocket and scramble towards daylight when things break down.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Many people like the idea of innovation but hesitate to share the road with fully autonomous vehicles.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
There was a lull on the other end.—
Robbie Robertson,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Nov. 2025
-
He was asked about the lulls in practice last week, but the 21-year-old noted that the vibes on Sunday were noticeably off as well.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
So there's no hesitation in that regard.—
EW Staff,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Tuesday's result capped a tumultuous final month that saw national Republican condemnation, Democratic hesitation and equivocation, and a barrage of attack ads.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Prabowo has always denied the allegations that led to his dismissal from the military in 1998, the same year Indonesia broke free from Suharto’s authoritarian rule.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The film, which was produced by Sony, has reportedly become the most popular Netflix film ever, and continues to break streaming records, even for its original soundtrack.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Each level is carefully curated to flow seamlessly into the next, creating a series of highs and lows where slower paced stages with softer visuals let players catch their breath before the next big bass drop.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Looking ahead to the showcase In advance of a show, Mez and her group take intentional breaths together.—
Marcus Smith,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Wyatt gave Minnie some distance, which made sense after Kylie spoke about her eldest daughter’s hesitancy around characters at the theme park.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Liberty’s own hesitancy to committing is based on her past as well as her day-to-day dealing with [divorce] clients.—
Max Gao,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The sudden sting, the constant urge to run to the bathroom and the interruptions to work or intimacy can feel both embarrassing and unsettling.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The company confirmed with the FAA that international flights will continue without interruption.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The judge continued to echo his hesitance following the reveal and shared an Instagram Stories post posing the question for fans.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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Now, there is some reason for hesitance here, mainly because Raymond could be playing with a rotating cast on his line’s left wing this season.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pause. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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