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

The preview began by showing the pair getting caught up in a drug bust, in which Jason pauses to pet a dog on their way into a pickup that ends in a shootout with police. — Angela Yang, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026

The decision essentially pauses a preliminary injunction that granted a fifth season for the upcoming 2026-27 college season and represents a significant legal victory for the NCAA. — Justin Williams, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Five years after Mercedes’ winning streak was interrupted, Wolff pauses when describing his feelings about its comeback. — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Liquid nitrogen storage pauses cellular activity, so the egg should not degrade over time. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026

The ruling pauses enforcement on the tax on second properties while a lawsuit brought by a group of homeowners moves forward. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

In reality, remediation still pauses while security teams validate results, IT schedules maintenance windows or multiple stakeholders approve deployment. — Deepak Kumar, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

In her acknowledgments, Jacobsen pauses to remind her readers that her tale’s painstaking realism is just a literary device. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026

One brutal knife fight pauses so a brawler can cue up a song on the jukebox that sounds like something Doris Day would slow-dance to. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Noun

The postponements began shortly after federal judges this month rejected the administration’s attempts to use blanket pauses, rather than individual assessments, to prevent certain immigrants from receiving visas over public-charge concerns. — María Luisa Paúl, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

These pauses also give the documentary an air of mournful respect, making its pace more deliberate than the standard talking heads-doc that might be mistaken as a stylistic counterpart. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Suddenly, residents and officials in red states and swing districts such as Texas, Mississippi and Ohio are echoing progressive leaders like Bernie Sanders in calling for pauses on new data centers. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026

Loud, frequent snoring paired with gasping, choking or pauses in breathing may point to obstructive sleep apnea. — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026

Their vehicles then come under a barrage of gunfire, which goes on for more than five minutes with brief pauses. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

This is lunch à la Provençale; expect a multi-course meal with pauses between courses (no, the service isn't slow). — Lanie Goodman, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026

The better path is to recognize that the current strategy of widespread attacks and long operational pauses isn’t working, but that surrendering to Iran’s demands isn’t an acceptable outcome. — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 2026

At senior levels, thoughtful pauses can signal judgment, not weakness. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026