pause

1 a momentary halt in an activity there was a brief pause for applause in her speech Synonyms break, breath, breather, interruption, lull, recess Related Words time-out; interim, interlude, intermission, interval, respite, rest; cessation, discontinuance, downtime, ending, expiration, finishing, hitch, lapse, stoppage, stopping, termination; abeyance, moratorium, surcease, suspension; discontinuity, gap, hiatus Near Antonyms continuation, endurance, persistence, progress, progression; extension, prolongation

2 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 faltering, fence-sitting, hesitance, hesitancy, indecision, irresolution, hesitation, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, vacillation, wavering, wobbling (also wabbling)Related Words delay, hawing, procrastination, waiting; arrière-pensée, misgiving, second thought; consideration, debate, deliberation, doubt, incertitude, indecisiveness, indetermination, uncertainness, uncertainty; avoidance, equivocation; aversion, disinclination, indisposition, reluctance, unwillingness; faintheartedness, shyness, timidity, timidnessNear Antonyms certainty, certitude, confidence, decisiveness, determination, firmness, resoluteness, resolution, sureness; alacrity, eagerness, readiness

to come to a temporary halt in one's activity he paused for a moment to regain his composure Synonyms break Related Words hesitate; break in, interrupt; cease, discontinue, end, finish, stop, terminate; knock off, lay off, quit; lapse, let up Phrases catch one's breath, hold one's horses Near Antonyms continue, persist; advance, progress; extend, prolong, stretch