Synonyms of pauses

pauses 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of pause

as in hesitates

to come to a temporary halt in one's activity

he paused for a moment to regain his composure

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hesitates
• breaks
• interrupts
• stops
• finishes
• catches one's breath
• holds one's horses
• ceases
• ends
• terminates
• breaks in
• lapses
• discontinues
• lays off
• quits
• knocks off
• lets up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• continues
• persists
• advances
• progresses
• extends
• stretches
• prolongs

pauses

2 of 2

noun

plural of pause

as in lulls

a momentary halt in an activity

there was a brief pause for applause in her speech

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lulls
• breaths
• interruptions
• breaks
• recesses
• intervals
• rests
• breathers
• intermissions
• interludes
• respites
• stoppages
• gaps
• suspensions
• lapses
• hitches
• time-outs
• cessations
• hiatuses
• downtimes
• endings
• interims
• discontinuances
• terminations
• discontinuities
• expirations
• moratoriums
• abeyances
• surceases

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• progresses
• continuations
• progressions
• extensions
• prolongations
• endurances
• persistences

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pauses

Verb

Secretary Hegseth told your committee that the administration doesn't need congressional authorization to continue the war past 60 days because the clock pauses because of the ceasefire. —ABC News, 3 May 2026

The Defense secretary said the clock pauses during a ceasefire. —Ben Finley, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026

The ruling, which pauses enforcement of the measure while an appeal proceeds in court, marks the second blow to California’s efforts to force federal agents to identify themselves. —Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Martin Picard Partway through a technical explanation of his work, Picard pauses and briefly looks away. —Jasna Hodžić, Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026

But now Hunt stops reading from his phone and pauses to collect his words. —Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026

Trust short pauses to reveal what truly deserves your attention next. —Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 17 Apr. 2026

After April, the Galaxy will be faced with a five-game May before the league pauses for the FIFA World Cup. —Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 17 Apr. 2026

The reader who pauses for breath, after this recitation of horrors, is soon rewarded by being plunged into a yet more catastrophic mire. —Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026

Noun

There are also sections called a Cup of Tea with Meg, conversational pauses that feel like sitting across from someone who is not trying to sell you anything. —Nia Bowers, USA Today, 8 May 2026

More often than not, the request gets the big kids’ attention, and chaos ceases (pauses) as the three of them roll around singing while Marc and I stand in the doorway kvelling. —Risa Polansky Shiman, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026

Even brief pauses can reduce muscle tension and lower stress hormone levels. —Danielle Wilhour, The Conversation, 5 May 2026

In this production, reflective pauses become multimedia spectacles. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 May 2026

Business major Andrea Lui found the chatbot’s voice to be surprisingly human, but the conversation felt choppy with odd pauses. —Jocelyn Gecker, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026

Business major Andrea Lui found the chatbot’s voice to be surprisingly human, but the conversation felt choppy with odd pauses. —Jocelyn Gecker, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026

Women also have more hypopneas (shallow breaths with less oxygen flow), whereas men tend toward apneas (complete pauses in breathing). —Katie Camero, SELF, 16 Apr. 2026

According to the Cleveland Clinic, premature babies can experience these pauses along with a slow heart rate or low blood oxygen levels. —Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026