PAUSING Synonyms: 24 Similar and Opposite Words

pausing

verb

present participle of pause

as in hesitating

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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of pausing Let’s commit to pausing tearing each other down before ripping up and rewriting our stories and objects. — Tara Sonenshine, Baltimore Sun, 11 July 2026 Cool off in the cyan waters of Prassa Beach, then head up to the main town of Horio to stroll along cobblestoned paths, pausing for meze at a taverna. — Helen Iatrou, Travel + Leisure, 11 July 2026 Each one approaches the same idea from a different angle, pausing to notice, slowing down to digest and chewing with attention. — Allison Palmer july 9, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026 Ferguson said that the regional systems the NGA built have continued to work effectively since 2024, despite Cal OES pausing implementation in favor of the statewide approach. — William Melhado july 7, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026 After pausing for the intermission between the 15-minute extra time halves, Argentina found their footing again and once again took the lead. — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 3 July 2026 In a joint opinion piece published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in late May, the two officials endorsed pausing the development of new data centers in Little Rock. — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 1 July 2026 Turning a game of two halves into one of four quarters, pausing a sport that derives much of its power and mystique from a clock that never stops, has been universally unpopular. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026 Bobbie Robinson says business collaboration is better than pausing new liquor licenses. — Monique John, CBS News, 28 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pausing

hesitating

Verb

The book does often feel like a recording of a mental jam session, but there is also a sense of being guided by a kind of hesitating yet urgent voice that needs to get things figured out.

— Craig Morgan Teicher, Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
While their rivals started spending significant sums of money as soon as the 2024-25 season finished, Spurs wasted a couple of weeks hesitating about the long-term future of then head coach Ange Postecoglou before replacing him with Thomas Frank.

— David Ornstein, New York Times, 29 May 2026