as in winter
a period of often involuntary inactivity or idleness
we need to take a time-out from our relationship to think things over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 time-out
European soccer leagues, meanwhile, have largely refrained from following the U.S.’s lead, partly because the game revolves around near-continuous play and does not traditionally include breaks or time-outs.
—
Tristan Bove, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Those two minutes in a time-out decades ago still guide how Richards leads today.
—Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
With the duel tied at 88-88, the Aces called time-out with five seconds left.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Dec. 2025
What all those albums had in common was how those artists offered at least occasional time-outs from the trauma.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for time-out
Tristan Bove, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Those two minutes in a time-out decades ago still guide how Richards leads today.
—Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
With the duel tied at 88-88, the Aces called time-out with five seconds left.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Dec. 2025
What all those albums had in common was how those artists offered at least occasional time-outs from the trauma.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for time-out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for time-out
Noun
-
Despite the chill of children, summer came, despite the winter of children, summer came.—
Valzhyna Mort,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
And on cold nights in the winter of 1979-80, WGN-TV replayed the 23-22 game.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
From breezy linen pants to packable layers and day-to-night dresses, these pieces are designed to keep you cool and stylish on city breaks and tropical getaways alike.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
20 May 2026
-
Divers found the boy within a few minutes of starting their search along the break wall.—
Shardaa Gray,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Each eye tube can be removed using only four screws, greatly reducing downtime and minimizing the need for specialized tools.—
David Szondy
May 17,
New Atlas,
17 May 2026
-
As Kevin Jackson of EXP Journeys told Conde Nast Traveler, parents are increasingly the ones requesting screen-free trips on behalf of their kids — wanting children to experience meals, hikes and downtime without the pull of a device.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The quality, however, doesn’t make for a pleasant viewing experience, especially during lulls in the season like the one the Dodgers are currently battling through.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
-
There’s typically an offseason lull with most players, so drops in price or sales volume aren’t abnormal this time of year for NFL players.—
Benjamin Burrows,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
There was a pause in the action in the fourth inning when plate umpire Brian O’Nora exited with concussion-like symptoms after getting hit by a foul ball.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
-
Let’s pause here for a moment for an important bit of context.—
Andy Meek,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The budget proposal also still includes dozens of layoffs, elimination of the Office of Child and Youth Success and cuts to homeless services, zoning investigators and facilities maintenance.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
As with many layoffs at tech companies recently, Cisco’s job losses are attributed to the growth of AI.—
Scharon Harding,
ArsTechnica,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Time-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/time-out. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
