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

On this day every year since, the community pauses to reflect and remember. — Mamie Bah, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026

The new spending comes as the group pauses ads in Georgia and North Carolina, states where Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Roy Cooper are favored to win. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026

By default, the right earbud plays and pauses with a single tap, skips to the next track with a double tap, and turns the volume up with a tap-and-hold. — Christian De Looper, PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026

An employee pauses an invoice because something looks unusual. — Doug Shannon, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Some of these changes are noticeable without any special technology, says Ibañez, including slower speech, longer pauses, a flatter emotional tone, trouble finding the right word, or vaguer, less specific language. — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Loud persistent snoring, sudden gasping or choking for air, waking with a dry mouth and breathing pauses a partner usually notices first. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 23 Sep. 2026

Clutching an aerial hoop on a Johannesburg circus stage, a young performer pauses for a split second before launching into the air and gliding, drawing cheers from the crowd below. — ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026

The conversation pauses every few moments to let a J, M, or Z train lumber loudly past us, but also because Green is someone who chooses her words with great care. — Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2026

Noun

The nationwide victories for Democrats raised the possibility that governments could force pauses in construction of more data centers. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

Ukrainian officials have described the operation in Oleshky as one of the most significant pauses in fighting since Russia launched its full-scale invasion more than four and a half years ago. — Alexander Smith, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2026

Roberto Sosa often took long pauses while recounting the incident and paused to wipe his eyes. — Zoey Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026

Those include scrapping several existing repayment options and doing away with payment pauses for struggling student loan borrowers. — Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea,jessica Dickler,sarah Agostino,greg Iacurci,lorie Konish,annie Nova,sharon Epperson,stephanie Dhue, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

In September 2024, in the middle of combat, Israel agreed to daily nine-hour pauses so that 560,000 Palestinian children could get polio drops. — Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026

Part of the confusion lies with the fact that the midterm elections could change the makeup of Congress, which could lead to new policies or pauses. — Anil Oza, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026

The idea became a contemporary streetscape built around encounters, pauses and departures. — Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026

Gai said internal discussions regarding the future of the hydration breaks are underway, before adding that the inclination inside FIFA is to make the pauses available on a match-by-match basis. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2026