as in hesitated
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
he paused for a moment to regain his composure
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Recent Examples of paused
Michigan corrections officials have suspended a worker and paused all third-shift special assignments at a facility while investigating a cleaning project that involved inmates.
—
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 8 June 2026
FuelFest has raised about $1 million for Reach Out Worldwide since the charity resumed in 2024, more than a decade after Paul Walker’s death paused the group’s work.
—Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
In Walnut Green Park, in the heart of the business district, the America 250 celebration paused as neighbors turned toward the pole and watched a symbol rise that Sewickley has never had since its founding in 1853.
—Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 8 June 2026
The project was also paused in 2025.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 June 2026
Tan has laid off approximately 34% of Intel’s workforce and paused plans to expand manufacturing facilities in Germany and Poland.
—Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
Ohio paused tax incentives for data centers on Wednesday.
—Yash Roy, Fortune, 6 June 2026
As part of the restructuring, the school will go from four colleges to two, has discontinued over a dozen academic programs, and paused most doctoral admissions.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 4 June 2026
Adults with cognitive decline took longer to start writing, paused more frequently and struggled with stroke organization, the study found.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 8 June 2026
FuelFest has raised about $1 million for Reach Out Worldwide since the charity resumed in 2024, more than a decade after Paul Walker’s death paused the group’s work.
—Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
In Walnut Green Park, in the heart of the business district, the America 250 celebration paused as neighbors turned toward the pole and watched a symbol rise that Sewickley has never had since its founding in 1853.
—Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 8 June 2026
The project was also paused in 2025.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 8 June 2026
Tan has laid off approximately 34% of Intel’s workforce and paused plans to expand manufacturing facilities in Germany and Poland.
—Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
Ohio paused tax incentives for data centers on Wednesday.
—Yash Roy, Fortune, 6 June 2026
As part of the restructuring, the school will go from four colleges to two, has discontinued over a dozen academic programs, and paused most doctoral admissions.
—Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 4 June 2026
Adults with cognitive decline took longer to start writing, paused more frequently and struggled with stroke organization, the study found.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paused
hesitated
Verb
-
When stadium suites for the FIFA World Cup went on sale last year, the prices were so high that even the owner of Mercedes-Benz Stadium hesitated to buy one.—
Thad Moore,
AJC.com,
3 June 2026
-
Jamie hesitated and then, in an actorly kind of trance, came over and joined her on the bed.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paused. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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