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
Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
The beginning of 2026 confirmed this trend as US importers paused purchases to assess the impact of tariffs and economic pressures.
—Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
In September 2023, the singer announced her diagnosis on Instagram alongside two photos of herself during a doctor's visit, sharing that her recent health battle has forced her to put her career on pause.
—Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pause
Verb
Hans Maron, one of So Happy’s co-owners along with his wife, Ana, and Robbie Norman, paused to gather himself Thursday when asked how much Dena Glatt would have enjoyed being at the Derby for the first time.
—Jay Posner, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
The beginning of 2026 confirmed this trend as US importers paused purchases to assess the impact of tariffs and economic pressures.
—Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
Noun
More than six hours into their meeting on Tuesday, school board members by a 5-2 vote decided to table an item related to Special Education Executive Director JaKyta Lawrie’s departure from KCKPS until later this week, putting a final call about her employment on pause.
—Sofi Zeman, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
In September 2023, the singer announced her diagnosis on Instagram alongside two photos of herself during a doctor's visit, sharing that her recent health battle has forced her to put her career on pause.
—Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause
Verb
-
Mazzulla, who’s trumpeted the Celtics depth at every turn this season, shouldn’t hesitate to use it if his starters stumble on Saturday.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
1 May 2026
-
That level of detail can make even cautious people hesitate.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Say goodbye to the mid-summer lull with the unstoppable flower power of these garden superstars.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
-
But that lull appears to be near its end, with both campaigns and the pro-Cornyn Super PAC Texans for a Conservative Majority now spending heavily to book up large blocks of television ads ahead of the May 26 runoff.—
James Osborne,
Houston Chronicle,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Chiron in your 2nd House highlights something tied to confidence or hesitation.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
-
In a moment demanding courage, discipline and split-second judgment, men and women charged with protecting the president moved without hesitation toward duty, even at personal risk.—
Letters to the Editor,
Washington Post,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Even the ugly stuff broke the Knicks’ way.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
-
Venus Williams was not the only guest to break the fourth wall with an artistic reference to herself.—
Beatrice Dupuy,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
Noun
-
Take a deep breath and appreciate this season of slow.—
Ayrika L Whitney,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Recorded on five reel-to-reel decks, the composer’s 1975 piece blends everyday and exotic sounds—human breath, cheeping frogs, bubbling geysers—into a passionate defense of the raptures of listening.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
State data suggests this hesitancy may continue into childhood.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Despite Pickford’s relative hesitancy to engage aerially, Everton have been one of the most effective teams in the league at defending corners, conceding just five goals, the joint third fewest in the Premier League.—
Matt Pyzdrowski,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Employees restock more frequently and experience fewer interruptions from weekend shoppers, resulting in shelves that tend to stay better organized and fuller.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Apr. 2026
-
It has been contested almost annually without interruption since 10 years after the end of the Civil War, and on the first Saturday in May for almost a century.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Sensing hesitance as well as incompetence, coaches and players alike tried to sway the flailing fill-ins at every turn.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pause. Accessed 5 May. 2026.
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