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 The rapid pace exhausts hitters, and even has viewers pausing their TVs to catch their breath. — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 In July, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order establishing the nation’s first year-long moratorium on large data centers, effectively pausing the development of new facilities in the state. — Ashley Capoot,garrett Downs, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 OpenAI’s detailed, self-critical account of pausing its own model functions as a claim to that same safety-conscious ground, whether or not that was the intent behind it. — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Kathy Hochul of New York and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, have recently signed new orders limiting or pausing the developing of some types of data centers. — Benjamin Siegel, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 Tolle said, pausing for a moment to ask a Red Sox communications staffer if he was allowed to say that. — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 19 Aug. 2026 Deferment means pausing your payments temporarily, though interest can still accrue during that time. — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 After pausing during the pandemic, the festival returned before concluding in 2023, prompting KPBS to reimagine it as a communitywide celebration. — Maya Santiago, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 Despite many court losses, the administration has successfully pressured at least dozens of hospitals into closing or pausing gender-affirming care programs. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 14 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pausing

hesitating

Verb

Cueto was known for hesitating while in his pitching motion, or wiggling on the mound.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026
So electric power companies and regulators are cautious, hesitating to construct plants unless future demand is guaranteed.

— Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2026