time-outs

Definition of time-outsnext
plural of time-out
as in winters
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

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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-outs Run opposing guards into the ground, step on the gas harder, and force your opponents into spending catch-your-breath time-outs. Brian Robin, Oc Register, 28 Jan. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for time-outs
Noun
  • Milder than average winters tend to prevail across the northern half of the country.
    CNN.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
  • El Niño winters in Chicagoland are typically warmer than normal with below-average snowfall as the polar jet stream shifts farther north into Canada.
    David Yeomans, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Noun
  • If so, talk about that and ask them to help assuage your fears by explaining their practices for taking breaks, switching drivers and stopping along the way.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 24 May 2026
  • Without intentional breaks, leaders deplete the resources needed to stay effective.
    Tony Loyd, Forbes.com, 22 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
  • Not all parts of the country seem to have the same pattern, although the data points to school breaks as relative lulls.
    Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Kahn pauses, momentarily at a loss for words.
    Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2026
  • However, Samsung's workers' union disputed the impact of the strikes, saying in a statement that previous production pauses had occurred for equipment inspection, maintenance and process adjustments.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • The board rejected the judge’s recommendations to rescind the layoffs, and approved sending the final layoff notices to the employees.
    Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
  • Professionals facing career transitions—whether due to layoffs, industry shifts or broader economic forces—are frequently left to navigate change on their own.
    Irma Becerra, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
Noun
  • The average response time for phone calls dropped to 6 minutes from 30 minutes in the prior fiscal year; field office wait times decreased to 23 minutes; and removal of online service downtimes has benefited an additional 125,000 users in a single week, according to the agency's findings.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Klaus talks to his sister in California on an elegant brass and Bakelite 1940s telephone (the props are divine throughout), complete with operator interruptions.
    Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
  • Residents can generally expect to use household electrical appliances without interruptions, according to the company.
    Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 12 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Time-outs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/time-outs. Accessed 25 May. 2026.

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