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
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
The celebration from the American contingent in the stadium has paused after a goal in the 10th minute by Arda Güler leveled the score at 1-1.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
26 June 2026
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
28 June 2026
Some card descriptions are a bit wordy, forcing pauses to reread during your first attempts.
—
Jason Bennett,
Arkansas Online,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pause
Verb
Despite a fragile ceasefire reached in October that paused the heaviest fighting between Israel and the Hamas militant group, Israel continues to carry out near daily strikes and shelling across the coastal enclave.
—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
The celebration from the American contingent in the stadium has paused after a goal in the 10th minute by Arda Güler leveled the score at 1-1.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
26 June 2026
Noun
The dinner was positioned as a pause from the noise of a packed — and extremely hot — fashion week.
—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
28 June 2026
Some card descriptions are a bit wordy, forcing pauses to reread during your first attempts.
—
Jason Bennett,
Arkansas Online,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause
Verb
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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.
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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
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The World Cup is in a bit of a lull right now, as the chaos of the sprawling group stage, with its communal good vibes, gives way to the business end of the tournament.
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Atmospheric warming is diminishing wildfires’ nighttime lulls.
Noun
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When Miller unleashed another slider, Suzuki showed no hesitation.
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That hesitation becomes stronger when the candidate frames the pivot as a weakness.
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 30 Jun. 2026.
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