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
Here, cops can decompress after a stressful event or take a brief time-out during a draining shift.
—
Katja Ridderbusch, NPR, 26 May 2025
The child who broke the toy would likely be yelled at and sent to time-out by the authoritarian parent without much conversation beyond that.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
Spock advised parents against scolding children, threatening them, punishing them, giving them time-outs, or shooting them cross looks.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
In any other circumstance, I would have been flustered, embarrassed, and ready to drag her out of there and straight into a time-out.
—Staff Author, Parents, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for time-out
Katja Ridderbusch, NPR, 26 May 2025
The child who broke the toy would likely be yelled at and sent to time-out by the authoritarian parent without much conversation beyond that.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
Spock advised parents against scolding children, threatening them, punishing them, giving them time-outs, or shooting them cross looks.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
In any other circumstance, I would have been flustered, embarrassed, and ready to drag her out of there and straight into a time-out.
—Staff Author, Parents, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for time-out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for time-out
Noun
-
Warm-season grasses are dormant in winter and have a flush of growth when spring arrives.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
17 Aug. 2025
-
The cabins opened for the summer season in May after being vacant over the winter.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
His splendid defense never wavered, but Harris was statistically the worst lineup regular in the majors this season through the All-Star break, batting .210 with a puny .551 OPS in 93 games.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson said Monday that any breaks on the state’s 4% grocery tax will be up to the legislature to consider.—
Vivian Jones,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
In markets prone to extreme weather, the most prepared operators have generators, belts, filters, fans and more on hand to minimize downtime when there’s a local disruption.—
Ryan Mallory,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
-
Some residents of the Oxfordshire hamlet were upset by Vance choosing their region to spend some downtime.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Meteorologists looking past the current slate of nascent storms see a potential lull in activity for the final few days of August, which is nearing what's typically the most active time of the hurricane season.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
23 Aug. 2025
-
He’s weathered the occasional lulls in widespread appreciation for the blues with stoic grace.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
When Devo hit pause in the early 1990s, Bob didn't stay down for long.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
19 Aug. 2025
-
There are quite simply no two ways about it, and any pause in the research could have dire consequences, even if it is reversed later.—
New York Daily News,
Twin Cities,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The city is home to thousands of federal workers, and the mass layoffs under DOGE have already had a major impact on the city’s economy.—
Jill Colvin,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
-
These reforms may put additional strain on an already-buckling Department of Education, which was hit by mass layoffs earlier this spring that effectively cut the department’s workforce in half and likely has contributed to the existing backlogs.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Time-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/time-out. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share