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
Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The Social Security Administration will continue to issue retirement and disability benefits but will furlough 12% of its staff and pause marketing campaigns, according to the agency’s shutdown plan.
—Terry Moseley, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
The show will go on for Keith Urban — after a brief pause.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pause
Verb
Most gates and roads remain open, but routine stewardship is paused or sharply reduced.
—Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 21 Oct. 2025
The Social Security Administration will continue to issue retirement and disability benefits but will furlough 12% of its staff and pause marketing campaigns, according to the agency’s shutdown plan.
—Terry Moseley, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
Vought did not specify the number or nature of the projects considered for the pause, and the Army Corps of Engineers has provided no updates after Vought's announcement.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
The show will go on for Keith Urban — after a brief pause.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause
Verb
-
Some affirm its position; some hesitate to award it the stamp.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
-
With so many convenient destinations to choose from, there really is no reason to hesitate to put a Northern Lights trip on your calendar.—
Lydia Price,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
However, an early burst of winter storms was expected, with a lull of snow in the mid-winter season, then a resurgence in the late months of winter.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
21 Oct. 2025
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For instance, why did the offense experience so many extended lulls against opposing bullpens (even as, in another contradiction, its overall performance against bullpens was in line with 2024)?—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Neighbors expressed hesitation about the plans, citing the noise helicopters would cause, WPBF News 25 and WPTV reported.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Villa had known Elliott was available in the months before, yet the price caused hesitation.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The incident on Saturday morning began when Oakland police were called about person who had broken into a home on the 11000 block of Ettrick Street, in a hills neighborhood near the Oakland Zoo.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
20 Oct. 2025
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The strongman leader broke precedent to remain head of the party and the state for a third term starting in 2022, and has so far avoided elevating an heir apparent.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In times of increasing cynicism and apathy in the zeitgeist, this phantasm extravaganza — at once humorously deadpan in its playful tableaus and poignantly sincere at its emotional core — feels like a breath of fresh air.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The man draws a sharp, startled breath.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This hesitancy is common, Travers said, because people may be fearful of being judged or of having their trauma follow them later in life.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Yet Trump’s mercurial nature has given other presidential scholars, who cited the president’s six-month journey to even suggest that Vance and Rubio were in the running to succeed him, some hesitancy.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The production interruption comes as Nissan undergoes global restructuring to reduce operating expenses and boost sales.—
Stuart Dyos,
Nashville Tennessean,
24 Oct. 2025
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An early interruption from the Editor, however, risks killing your idea before ink hits the page.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Now, there is some reason for hesitance here, mainly because Raymond could be playing with a rotating cast on his line’s left wing this season.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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Still, the Sons of Anarchy star has been open about his initial hesitance to take on the role.—
Julia Moore,
PEOPLE,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pause. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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