Synonyms of pause

pause 1 of 2

verb

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

• hesitate
• break
• stop
• interrupt
• catch one's breath
• hold one's horses
• finish
• cease
• break in
• end
• terminate
• discontinue
• lapse
• lay off
• quit
• let up
• knock off

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continue
• persist
• advance
• extend
• stretch
• progress
• prolong

pause

2 of 2

noun

ˈpȯz 

1

as in lull

a momentary halt in an activity

there was a brief pause for applause in her speech

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lull
• breath
• interruption
• break
• recess
• rest
• interval
• breather
• stopping
• time-out
• interlude
• suspension
• intermission
• lapse
• respite
• interim
• cessation
• stoppage
• finishing
• hiatus
• downtime
• gap
• hitch
• expiration
• discontinuance
• termination
• moratorium
• ending
• abeyance
• discontinuity
• surcease

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• progress
• continuation
• persistence
• progression
• endurance
• extension
• prolongation

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

• hesitation
• hesitancy
• hesitance
• delay
• indecision
• deliberation
• faltering
• vacillation
• wavering
• wobbling
• irresolution
• uncertainty
• waiting
• fence-sitting
• doubt
• shilly-shallying
• shilly-shally
• reluctance
• consideration
• debate
• second thought
• procrastination
• hawing
• arrière-pensée
• indetermination
• incertitude
• unwillingness
• indecisiveness
• avoidance
• misgiving
• timidity
• indisposition
• equivocation
• disinclination
• faintheartedness
• uncertainness
• shyness
• timidness
• aversion

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• resolution
• determination
• confidence
• certainty
• firmness
• certitude
• readiness
• eagerness
• decisiveness
• alacrity
• resoluteness
• sureness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pause

Verb

The talks appear to have been paused this week as Iran has held massive funeral events for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the opening salvo of the war. — Garrett Haake, NBC news, 7 July 2026

Tehran has paused fragile negotiations with the US aimed at reaching a lasting deal to end their conflict during the multi-day funeral for Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli strike in February, on the first day of the war. — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 7 July 2026

Noun

The experience has given her pause for thought about booking a summer family vacation. — Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 6 July 2026

Packages flow directly from dock doors into scanning, identification and stacking—with no pauses, no handoffs and no redesigns. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 6 July 2026