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
ABC News, 27 July 2025
Spencer Platt | Getty Images But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit quickly paused that decision, keeping the tariffs in effect while Trump’s legal challenge plays out.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 26 July 2025
Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 12 July 2025
The pause in storms offers a critical window for search and recovery teams working along the Guadalupe River and surrounding areas.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pause
Verb
Under massive international pressure to alleviate the suffering and allow more aid in, Israel pausing its relentless bombardment for the first time since March.
—ABC News, 27 July 2025
Spencer Platt | Getty Images But the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit quickly paused that decision, keeping the tariffs in effect while Trump’s legal challenge plays out.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 26 July 2025
Noun
After several delays and the project going on pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, the mural got underway and now her dream has come true.
—Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 12 July 2025
The pause in storms offers a critical window for search and recovery teams working along the Guadalupe River and surrounding areas.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause
Verb
-
Many third-party managers hesitate to adopt centralized models, citing concerns about disruption or owner pushback.—
Tyler Christiansen,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
-
Social media users didn't hesitate to share their thoughts on the eBay sale.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
17 July 2025
Noun
-
And far in the distance, whenever there's a lull in the party, an occasional cheer can be heard from Centre Court, less than a quarter-mile away — where some of these lucky campers will be watching world-class tennis the next day.—
Lauren Frayer,
NPR,
10 July 2025
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China’s electric vehicle juggernaut appeared to be easing in Europe but last month new data showed the lull was short-lived.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
Decades later in an interview with The Saturday Evening Post, Brolin reflected on his initial hesitation to take the role.—
Alexandra Schonfeld,
People.com,
18 July 2025
-
The right people are drawn to energy, not hesitation.—
JW Roth,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
Verb
-
At the time, Anduril was a startup with twenty-five employees, hoping to break into the defense business.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
-
Will Porter has spent the past few years breaking back into tennis by taking lessons and playing matches with friends.—
Will Porter,
Travel + Leisure,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
When your stress rises, stop and take three long, conscious breaths.—
Wilson Luna,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
Initially, Queen Elizabeth felt Meghan was a breath of fresh air.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
The preservative’s safety has been thoroughly studied, but was removed from all childhood vaccines in 2001 to try to address parents’ hesitancy.—
Lisa Jarvis,
Mercury News,
5 July 2025
-
For example, private payrolls processor ADP reported a net decline in jobs added amid a hesitancy for companies to replace departing workers, ADP's chief economist said.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
This gives them a chance with a microphone to get their case out to the other women without interruption, derailing, or backbiting.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
24 July 2025
-
While intended as a safeguard, prior authorization has often been criticized for causing delays, increasing administrative workload for physicians, and potentially leading to patient care interruptions.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
Several major automakers are investing billions of dollars into American EV production despite the U.S. hesitance to adopt EVs.—
Charles Singh,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
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Despite hesitance from some Republican senators, all of Trump’s nominees who have come for a vote on the floor have been confirmed, even his most contentious picks.—
Elizabeth Crisp,
The Hill,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pause. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
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