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

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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 time-out For instance, time-out reminders, focus modes and little nudges to take breaks can make a difference. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 The Texas Tech student, who sunk a 94-foot putt during a commercial time-out at the Tech-Houston basketball game on Monday and then chest-bumped the three-time Super Bowl MVP, tried to recreate his masterful moment while on the Today show on Thursday, Feb. 27. Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025 And some biz owners have struggled to set up accounts due to time-out errors and unclear instructions, per a local Reddit thread of gripes about it. Karri Peifer, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025 Just over a minute after San Jose fell behind 3-0 at the 9:50 mark of the first, Askarov, during a media time-out, went to the team’s bench to talk with head athletic trainer Jaime Garcia, then left the ice and returned to the team’s dressing room. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for time-out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for time-out
Noun
  • Media members asked Bregman about the offseason pursuit, the possibility of being booed, his relationship with manager A.J. Hinch, and yes, even the possibility of the Tigers being on his radar again next winter, when Bregman could opt out of his Red Sox deal.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 13 May 2025
  • Listen to this article The Broncos’ winter of staff attrition, finally, is turning over to a spring of staff addition.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • Chances arrived at both ends before the decisive moment, David Silva bouncing a close-range volley over the bar before the break, while Kenwyne Jones toe-poked a shot into a sprawling Joe Hart — Stoke’s only on-target attempt of the game.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • Verizon said all of the same provisions will apply to Frontier. Need a break?
    David Shepardson, USA Today, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • This shared downtime likely helps build those strong companionship bonds.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
  • Operators can optimize their O&M strategies, reduce downtime and minimize operational costs by leveraging data, predictive models and machine learning.
    Joern Hackbarth, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Yeboah hasn’t scored since March, a lull of seven matches that also came with an ankle injury.
    Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 16 May 2025
  • There may be a lull in storms in the afternoon, but there is also a chance that once the first round dissipates, another batch of severe weather forms on the eastern fringes of the area.
    Miceala Morano, Arkansas Online, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • Then, the White House announced that the U.S. and China have agreed to a 90 day pause in their trade war.
    David Hebert, National Review, 16 May 2025
  • However, since then, Donald Trump has initiated a 90-day pause in the U.S.-China tariff conflict, reducing U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%, while China has lowered its retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports from 125% to 10% .
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • This vignette of administrative chaos exacerbated by mass layoffs will be familiar to any federal employee or contractor whose agency has been felled of late by the whimsical machete of DOGE.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 10 May 2025
  • In New Haven, a $23 million budget deficit could mean the removal of over 150 positions, including layoffs and closing vacancies.
    Jessika Harkay, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Time-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/time-out. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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