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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pauses
Rachel Mural,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
Setting the factory ablaze and escaping, Naim pauses for a minute when the Ryan-like monster appears at a window, begging to be released and claiming to be the human-being.
—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
19 June 2026
The 14-point memorandum of understanding is a preliminary agreement that reopens the Strait of Hormuz and pauses fighting, while setting up at least 60 days of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
19 June 2026
At the entrance of Kollparay, Quispe pauses, taking my hands and smearing them with soil—the soil of her village.
—
Paola Miglio,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 June 2026
These pauses in data center permitting and construction give communities time to consider how to define new laws and regulations about the facilities’ location, electricity use, water conservation and noise buffering.
—
Rachel Mural,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
As the Air Force pauses flight test operations at the base, the investigation is expected to focus heavily on the aircraft's takeoff, looking for potential engine failures or controllability issues.
—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Then Jaimoe pauses, flashes a quick, playful grin, and rolls his right pant leg up to his knee.
—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
12 June 2026
Before ascending, Turull pauses at an enormous seashell — a real one, not made of stone — that serves as a basin for holy water.
—
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
The pauses have also been criticized for interrupting the spectacle for fans, with broadcasters cutting to commercials.
—
Dorany Pineda,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
Critics say the pauses interrupt the rhythm of a sport that is less regimented than most American team sports.
—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Scientific American,
19 June 2026
For Chen, all performance exists within pauses and breaths.
—
Marcus Lim,
Variety,
19 June 2026
But speaking more cynically, the pauses provide chances for broadcasters to sell more advertising spots during FIFA’s biggest World Cup ever.
—
Emily Olsen,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
New Citadel employees learn not to fill in those pauses.
—
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Speakers left pauses for imaginary conversational partners to respond, as if observing real turn-taking conventions.
—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Since the clock doesn't stop during a match, this accounts for the pauses in play.
—
Mike Toole,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
Verb
These pauses in data center permitting and construction give communities time to consider how to define new laws and regulations about the facilities’ location, electricity use, water conservation and noise buffering.
—
Rachel Mural,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
Setting the factory ablaze and escaping, Naim pauses for a minute when the Ryan-like monster appears at a window, begging to be released and claiming to be the human-being.
—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
19 June 2026
The 14-point memorandum of understanding is a preliminary agreement that reopens the Strait of Hormuz and pauses fighting, while setting up at least 60 days of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
—
Rena Rowe,
The Washington Examiner,
19 June 2026
At the entrance of Kollparay, Quispe pauses, taking my hands and smearing them with soil—the soil of her village.
—
Paola Miglio,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 June 2026
These pauses in data center permitting and construction give communities time to consider how to define new laws and regulations about the facilities’ location, electricity use, water conservation and noise buffering.
—
Rachel Mural,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
As the Air Force pauses flight test operations at the base, the investigation is expected to focus heavily on the aircraft's takeoff, looking for potential engine failures or controllability issues.
—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Then Jaimoe pauses, flashes a quick, playful grin, and rolls his right pant leg up to his knee.
—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
12 June 2026
Before ascending, Turull pauses at an enormous seashell — a real one, not made of stone — that serves as a basin for holy water.
—
ABC News,
9 June 2026
Noun
The two mid-half pauses for hydration (and advertisements) have been met with increasingly loud boos from crowds who are frustrated at FIFA turning matches into de facto four-quarter affairs.
—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
The pauses have also been criticized for interrupting the spectacle for fans, with broadcasters cutting to commercials.
—
Dorany Pineda,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
Critics say the pauses interrupt the rhythm of a sport that is less regimented than most American team sports.
—
Chris Stokel-Walker,
Scientific American,
19 June 2026
For Chen, all performance exists within pauses and breaths.
—
Marcus Lim,
Variety,
19 June 2026
But speaking more cynically, the pauses provide chances for broadcasters to sell more advertising spots during FIFA’s biggest World Cup ever.
—
Emily Olsen,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
New Citadel employees learn not to fill in those pauses.
—
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Speakers left pauses for imaginary conversational partners to respond, as if observing real turn-taking conventions.
—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Since the clock doesn't stop during a match, this accounts for the pauses in play.
—
Mike Toole,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pauses
Verb
-
Sirianni hesitates for a moment, like the school troublemaker on the verge of another unpleasant trip to the principal’s office.
-
If someone hesitates, keep spirits up and adjust the route without losing the goal, then genuinely celebrate small wins.
Noun
-
Atmospheric warming is diminishing wildfires’ nighttime lulls.
-
Yes, there were lulls, to be sure.
Noun
-
The global economy was still caught in the vise of the Great Depression, civil war was brewing in Spain, and the League of Nations was breathing its last breaths.
-
It’s made of strong, tear-resistant nylon and inflates manually using about nine breaths.
Noun
-
If interruptions throw you off, step away briefly and return composed.
-
The signature tonneau silhouette is reimagined not as a single uninterrupted curve but as a constructed surface, broken into sharp transitions, layered planes and asymmetrical interruptions that radically alter its form.
Noun
-
In the director’s view, fragmented editing breaks emotional continuity; an unbroken take mirrors the uninterrupted flow of lived experience.
-
There will be hydration breaks during games and special rules that take effect if the on-field temperature exceeds 32°C (90°F).
Cite this Entry
“Pauses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pauses. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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