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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in lulls
a momentary halt in an activity
there was a brief pause for applause in her speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pauses
Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Until then, the court issued an injunction that pauses the state law from taking effect.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Ben Shelton pauses between serves as a ball kid retrieves a tennis ball during the singles finals of the Dallas Open men's tennis tournament which was held at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on February 15, 2026.
—Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
The receptionist responds gently, types swiftly, and then pauses.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
One pauses a policy and hopes the controversy fades.
—Shane Harris, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
The pair also bicker a bit as Aniston pauses mid-styling session to tame her own ‘do.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
After that comes a lengthy break as the NHL pauses for the Olympics.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
But due to a combination of legal battles, policy decisions, and administrative challenges, there are now three major student loan pauses in effect, impacting millions of borrowers.
—Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
Shawn joins us a moment later, and he is reserved, not hostile but preternaturally wary, measuring out his words with pauses and deference cut with self-possession.
—Christopher Bonanos, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
The protesters gathered Monday said Abbott should call a special session to discuss possible moratoriums, or temporary pauses, on data center approvals.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 2026
Income Gaps Moving internationally can result in periods where income slows or pauses.
—Charlotte Observer, 23 Feb. 2026
The pauses and resets also give mission managers a chance to practice different scenarios, such as situations in which issues crop up that need investigation or in which a launch has to be called off due to technical issues or bad weather.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
Those demands go well beyond temporary enrichment pauses or technical adjustments.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
The other performances are equally remote — this is the kind of a movie where nobody talks over anybody else’s lines, with steady pauses between each piece of dialogue — keeping the viewer at a certain distance.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
Funding was eventually restored after a series of lawsuits challenging payment pauses, eligibility requirements, and requests from the federal government for sensitive citizen data.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
Beneath the hum of fluorescent lights, Juvenile pauses mid-negotiation, flips his camera, and offers a grin that feels equal parts fatherly pride and rap-legend cool.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Until then, the court issued an injunction that pauses the state law from taking effect.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Ben Shelton pauses between serves as a ball kid retrieves a tennis ball during the singles finals of the Dallas Open men's tennis tournament which was held at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco on February 15, 2026.
—Dallas Morning News, 16 Feb. 2026
The receptionist responds gently, types swiftly, and then pauses.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
One pauses a policy and hopes the controversy fades.
—Shane Harris, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
The pair also bicker a bit as Aniston pauses mid-styling session to tame her own ‘do.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026
After that comes a lengthy break as the NHL pauses for the Olympics.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
But due to a combination of legal battles, policy decisions, and administrative challenges, there are now three major student loan pauses in effect, impacting millions of borrowers.
—Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
In the Heated Rivalry season finale, this seclusion shapes many defining (and tension-heavy) moments between the pro-hockey-playing protagonists, from free-flowing conversations in the living room to cuddles around the firepit and deep, reflective pauses by the water.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Feb. 2026
Shawn joins us a moment later, and he is reserved, not hostile but preternaturally wary, measuring out his words with pauses and deference cut with self-possession.
—Christopher Bonanos, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
The protesters gathered Monday said Abbott should call a special session to discuss possible moratoriums, or temporary pauses, on data center approvals.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 2026
Income Gaps Moving internationally can result in periods where income slows or pauses.
—Charlotte Observer, 23 Feb. 2026
The pauses and resets also give mission managers a chance to practice different scenarios, such as situations in which issues crop up that need investigation or in which a launch has to be called off due to technical issues or bad weather.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 19 Feb. 2026
Those demands go well beyond temporary enrichment pauses or technical adjustments.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
The other performances are equally remote — this is the kind of a movie where nobody talks over anybody else’s lines, with steady pauses between each piece of dialogue — keeping the viewer at a certain distance.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
Funding was eventually restored after a series of lawsuits challenging payment pauses, eligibility requirements, and requests from the federal government for sensitive citizen data.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 14 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pauses
Verb
-
When pressed on what a new economic system for the age of AGI might look like, Hunter-Torricke hesitates.—
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
17 Feb. 2026
-
If someone hesitates, give them time to respond, because shared goals deserve space for honest input.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There were some lulls in the second half of the season, but the Seahawks rounded into form toward the end of the regular season.—
Michael-Shawn Dugar,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The segment was a gloriously chaotic tribute to Italy’s successes across the arts, and carried the tone even through slower lulls like a call for peace by rapper Ghali, featuring the aforementioned Theron cameo.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Through tears and deep breaths, a former Douglas County judge learned Thursday she was found not guilty for her involvement in a fight outside a Buckhead nightclub.—
Caroline Silva,
AJC.com,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The following three categories of exercises emphasize a focus on rib and spinal movement powered by slow, deep, diaphragmatic breaths.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That reduces interruptions during development workflows.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Damages often reflect medical needs, work interruptions, and the aftermath of the incident.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the Big Apple, water main breaks are a dime a dozen, especially during this time of year.—
Andrew Ramos,
CBS News,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Fox quickly sold out its Daytona inventory, with more advertisers lining up to secure double-box breaks, the format that allows the network to present commercial messaging side-by-side with live racing.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pauses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pauses. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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