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
Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
Apartments, bars and living rooms across the city paused at once, everyone too locked into one final stop to leave the screen.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026
Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
Tech giant Anthropic called on Friday for a pause in global AI development, warning that unmitigated development could fast get out of control.
—Matthew Chin, CNBC, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pause
Verb
Britain and France, both G-7 members, have expressed interest in assisting with demining the waterway once the conflict is paused.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
Apartments, bars and living rooms across the city paused at once, everyone too locked into one final stop to leave the screen.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026
Noun
If emotions spike, pause, then restate the main goal in plain words.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026
Tech giant Anthropic called on Friday for a pause in global AI development, warning that unmitigated development could fast get out of control.
—Matthew Chin, CNBC, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause
Verb
-
Businesses denied loans mid-deal Traditional banks often hesitate to deal with small firms.—
Alina Selyukh,
NPR,
12 June 2026
-
For example, a manager may hesitate to recommend another woman for a high-profile assignment out of concern that opportunities are limited or that supporting a peer could diminish her own standing.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Tuesday through Thursday there is a lull in activity, the sun will shine and temperatures will rise, eventually reaching into the upper 90s by Thursday.—
Lauren Bostwick,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
-
When passengers see one person waiting, others assume there will be a wait and join in turning a brief lull into a steady backup.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
That hesitation to ride in an AV, however, is highly dependent on the specific situation, the study found.—
Ed Garsten,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
-
The Chicago Board of Education renewed the contracts with six charter school operators Wednesday, despite recent hesitations from some board members about approving long-term agreements after a slew of financial troubles in the sector.—
Kate Perez,
Chicago Tribune,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold cases and breaking news for USA TODAY.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
-
The roads, rubble on rubble, broken.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Tunisia holding its breath Central midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, arguably Tunisia’s best player, limped off the field during a warm-up game against Austria, according to the Score.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
9 June 2026
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Newport, Rhode Island On this breath-taking peninsula overlooking Narragansett Bay, Castle Hill Inn is a definitive choice for solace, if for no other reason that waking up to the dramatic view each morning.—
Judith Garrison,
AJC.com,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Another common problem for leaders is dealing with the pressure to innovate or the hesitancy to invest from the board.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
8 June 2026
-
His hesitancy could undermine one of DeSantis’ key arguments to sway voters, particularly those in small counties, in favor of the amendment.—
Romy Ellenbogen Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Upon resuming the meeting, Breadon didn’t directly address the arrests, but said no further interruptions would be tolerated, per Council rules.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
10 June 2026
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The ride interruptions quickly became a topic of discussion among Disney fans online.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Others, like Choi, believe that knowledge gaps are to blame for donor hesitance to get involved.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
25 May 2026
-
After a pause for the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, social hesitance was still evident and masks were incorporated into some of the night's designs.—
Luis Giraldo,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pause. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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