as in hesitating
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
he paused for a moment to regain his composure
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Recent Examples of pausing
Stellantis is temporarily pausing production at eight of its plants in Europe amid lagging demand for models including the Alfa Romeo Tonale sport utility vehicle and the Fiat Panda.
—
Gabrielle Coppola, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Afterwards, walk through the dazzling Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, pausing to admire the glass dome and beautiful mosaic floors (but beware of pickpockets).
—Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025
Her video featured her usual format, showing herself making an iced coffee before pausing to speak to the camera.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025
The White House press briefing room has been playing a video on loop of Senate Democrats’ past opposition to shutdowns, only pausing it briefly on Wednesday so Vice President JD Vance and press secretary Karoline Leavitt could address the news media.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2025
Board member Maria Alonzo read the statement in Spanish, pausing several times, removing her glasses and wiping away tears before the vote.
—Michael Dorgan , Jennifer Johnson, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Johnson responded before pausing for a stare down.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
Goldberg said, pausing to look off camera at a crew member.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
Rent a bike and pedal the picturesque eight-mile loop that hugs the shoreline, pausing to dip your toes in the lake.
—Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Gabrielle Coppola, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
Afterwards, walk through the dazzling Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, pausing to admire the glass dome and beautiful mosaic floors (but beware of pickpockets).
—Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025
Her video featured her usual format, showing herself making an iced coffee before pausing to speak to the camera.
—Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2025
The White House press briefing room has been playing a video on loop of Senate Democrats’ past opposition to shutdowns, only pausing it briefly on Wednesday so Vice President JD Vance and press secretary Karoline Leavitt could address the news media.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2025
Board member Maria Alonzo read the statement in Spanish, pausing several times, removing her glasses and wiping away tears before the vote.
—Michael Dorgan , Jennifer Johnson, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Johnson responded before pausing for a stare down.
—Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
Goldberg said, pausing to look off camera at a crew member.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
Rent a bike and pedal the picturesque eight-mile loop that hugs the shoreline, pausing to dip your toes in the lake.
—Christine Chitnis, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pausing
hesitating
Verb
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Even all-world corner Pat Surtain II didn’t have his best day, with Colts quarterback Daniel Jones not hesitating to go after him on routes over the middle.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Sep. 2025
-
As adults, this pattern can look like hesitating to ask for help, avoiding vulnerability or keeping emotional struggles private, even from those closest to you.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pausing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pausing. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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