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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
26 June 2026
Plus, its auto-pause technology prevents overheating by stopping airflow after three seconds of inactivity.
—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
26 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
Dominguez said the pause would continue until there was further clarity on the situation, noting that vessel did not transit the strait under IMO’s evacuation process.
—
Glenn Taylor,
Footwear News,
26 June 2026
Plus, its auto-pause technology prevents overheating by stopping airflow after three seconds of inactivity.
—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause
Verb
-
Some foreign financial institutions could be more willing to do business with Iran, though many will probably hesitate unless the US Treasury issues specific licenses for particular transactions.
-
The Duke wing unexpectedly fell out of the first round and into the Timberwolves’ lap at the start of Round 2 on Wednesday, and Minnesota didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger.
Noun
-
But by Sunday morning, residents in southern Lebanon reported a lull in Israeli strikes.
-
Intense fighting broke out on Friday morning after a relative lull in fighting following the announcement of the MOU.
Noun
-
What drives the hesitation is rarely bad code.
-
At the center of KeyBanc’s hesitation is Starship, the giant reusable rocket that Musk, the CEO, has described as critical to the future of satellite deployment, deep-space exploration and, eventually, colonization of Mars.
Verb
-
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.
-
To sign up for breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox, click here.
Noun
-
The toys clanked, the players held their breath and onlookers whispered strategies on the sidelines – until a winner was crowned.
-
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
-
Part of it is a hesitancy to trade veterans on expiring contracts (prior to this season’s trades with Buffalo) to get picks back.
-
Another common problem for leaders is dealing with the pressure to innovate or the hesitancy to invest from the board.
Noun
-
The breakdown came after years of increasingly frequent complaints about train delays and service interruptions.
-
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
-
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.
-
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 29 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
