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 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 Consult with your day-care provider about whether time-outs involving quiet moon-sand play would encourage more regulated decision-making. Cora Frazier, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025 At the time of our conversation near the end of the first month of 2025, as it’s been a week into a second term for Donald Trump and close to three weeks since wildfires started raging through Los Angeles, Garcelle Beauvais wants to call a time-out. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 28 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for time-out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for time-out
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Noun
  • If one partner needs space and the other needs closeness, find a middle ground, like agreeing to revisit the conversation after a short break.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
  • If a decision still has not been made after three days, a break of up to one day is permitted, allowing for prayer and discussion amongst cardinals.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 3 May 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • This shared downtime likely helps build those strong companionship bonds.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Don’t wait for a business lull or career crossroads to reconnect.
    Amanda Miller Littlejohn, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • But intensifying Russian attacks against Kyiv earlier this week following a lull over the Easter holiday led Trump to take a rare shot against Putin on Thursday.
    Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • And sometimes, a pause that lingers a moment longer than expected can speak louder than any update.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
  • After a five-year pause enacted by President Trump in March 2020.
    Ben Abrams, NPR, 2 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 18 May. 2025.

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