as in to hesitate
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity
he paused for a moment to regain his composure
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in lull
a momentary halt in an activity
there was a brief pause for applause in her speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action
the question caught the professor off guard, and there was a pause before he responded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pause
Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Tsolakis owes $35,000 in student debt but has had to pause repayments to focus on making his car payments and paying for other living expenses.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
After a pause, the composition takes on a searching quality, as the melody travels from one instrument to the next, including a compelling viola solo performed by principal viola Maiya Papach, eventually fading out to nothing, leaving the audience suspended in uneasy quiet.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pause
Verb
In a world that often rewards volume over value, the six-word story invites leaders to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters.
—Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Tsolakis owes $35,000 in student debt but has had to pause repayments to focus on making his car payments and paying for other living expenses.
—Matt Egan, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
Las Vegas would have homecourt advantage in this hypothetical, and New York’s inconsistency since the All-Star break is enough to give me pause (even with them finally being healthy).
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
After a pause, the composition takes on a searching quality, as the melody travels from one instrument to the next, including a compelling viola solo performed by principal viola Maiya Papach, eventually fading out to nothing, leaving the audience suspended in uneasy quiet.
—Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause
Verb
-
Surgery under fire When news of the donor heart came, Todurov did not hesitate.—
Ruchi Kumar,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Tran said some Republican clubs have even hesitated to ask their universities for support or security for their events.—
Hanna Kang,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The lull during the 2024 season was attributed in part to a jet of winds over Africa that were pushing northward and not following the typical track off the coast, Kelly Núñez Ocasio, assistant professor in the atmospheric sciences department at Texas A&M University, previously told USA TODAY.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
-
During the rare lull in service, McPherson watches over this scene from the bar, catching up with longtime customers and friends from the neighborhood.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And if a player is Premier League-proven, there is also less hesitation to pay big sums of money to other domestic clubs.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Now ready for pre-sale, the Sync Oven and Sync Air Fryer exemplify an idea beyond a kitchen tool, one that replaces hesitation with clarity and guesswork with certainty.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Well, Kristina Collins, MD, a dermatologist based in Austin, broke it down for me.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Her backing, however, did not immediately break the dam and usher in more establishment Democratic Party support.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Derek commented that the dance was beautiful to watch and called her a breath of fresh air.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Formulated without alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, the TheraBreath Whitening Fresh Breath Oral Rinse uses glucose oxidase and enzymes called papain to help break up stains and kill bad-breath-causing bacteria—all without aggravating sensitive teeth and gums.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That could alleviate some of the problems, including hesitancy that some pharmacists and doctors have because of the changing rules and confusion.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
11 Sep. 2025
-
If there was any hesitancy about embracing a comedian with no filter, Notre Dame is now in on the joke.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That contrasts with semi-automatic rifles, which allow the shooter to pull the trigger and quickly fire again without interruption.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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Customers who endure more than six sustained power interruptions longer than 5 minutes in one year are also eligible for the $42 outage credit.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Josh Brolin, who played big brother Brandon Walsh, expressed hesitance about a second movie.—
Daysia Tolentino,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
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Probably not, given the company’s strange hesitance to part ways with its current leadership.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pause. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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