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
Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 6 June 2025
President Trump’s administration on Friday asked the Supreme Court to pause a court order to reinstate Education Department employees who were fired in mass layoffs as part of his plan to dismantle the agency.
—Mark Sherman, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
Bluesky Social, 5 June 2025
But the launch comes within the 90-day pause on most tariffs.
—Mae Anderson, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pause
Verb
After pausing the convention in 2024, BravoCon is making its triumphant return to Las Vegas for a glittery and wild weekend in November 2025.
—Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 6 June 2025
President Trump’s administration on Friday asked the Supreme Court to pause a court order to reinstate Education Department employees who were fired in mass layoffs as part of his plan to dismantle the agency.
—Mark Sherman, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025
Noun
His winding path to his dream role included a stint as a punk drummer and hitting pause on his country career to get sober.
—Bluesky Social, 5 June 2025
But the launch comes within the 90-day pause on most tariffs.
—Mae Anderson, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause
Verb
-
Those that hesitate to modernize risk becoming less competitive in today’s fast-moving market.—
John Bruno,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
-
As Mars slips into your 12th house on June 17, your energy turns inward, so don’t hesitate to take a step back to rest, recharge and take a break from the social scene.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
1 June 2025
Noun
-
As the game moved into the second quarter, the Thunder stayed in control as both teams went through a shooting lull.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
5 June 2025
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The labor market lull is a rare opportunity to maximize your relationships with the critical partners who can expand and shift along with you.—
Marissa Geist,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
However, during the hearing, lobbyists for both the Chiefs and Royals would not commit to staying in Missouri if the plan passed, which could spark hesitation among some senators.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
3 June 2025
-
At the time, there was some hesitation in the industry about partnering with a Chinese drugmaker.—
Kerry A. Dolan,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
Officials there determined the residents had not intended to break the law and no crime was committed.—
Mark Thiessen,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
-
In the second set, Alcaraz broke to get within 4-5 when Sinner sailed a forehand long.—
Adam Zagoria,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
Noun
-
Smith began feeling short of breath during her runs.—
Jordan Greene,
People.com,
4 June 2025
-
But the bones – femur, rib, jaw – take her breath away each time.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
Unlike Southampton, who promptly dispatched their second manager of this season, Ivan Juric, immediately after relegation was confirmed, there has been a hesitancy about making a change.—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
-
The filmmakers went beyond celebrities and experts, also talking to regular people, including some residents of the Bay Area, about their own hesitancy, and how their views have or have not changed.—
Harriet Blair Rowan,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Because these assistants never push back, this behavior goes unchecked, potentially reinforcing real-world patterns of interruption and dominance that can undermine women in professional settings.—
Kim Elsesser,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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One of his goals is to identify vulnerabilities and ensure facilities are secure to prevent criminal intrusions, property damage or interruptions to local operations, said Hebeler, who started working at the Poway station on April 4.—
Julie Gallant,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2025
Noun
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Boomers are more likely to emphasize resilience, self-reliance, and the belief that personal struggles should be handled privately, that seeking help is a weakness, resulting in a hesitance to seek external support like therapy.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
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However, there was hesitance among owners to strip division champions of their first-round home-field advantage, prompting the modification to reseed after the wild-card round.—
Jayna Bardahl,
New York Times,
20 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pause. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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