respite
Americannoun
-
respites
plural
-
a delay or cessation for a time, especially of anything distressing or trying; an interval of relief.
to toil without respite.
-
temporary suspension of the execution of a person condemned to death; reprieve.
- Synonyms:
- stay, postponement
noun
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a pause from exertion; interval of rest
-
a temporary delay
-
a temporary stay of execution; reprieve
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of respite
First recorded in 1200–50; (for the noun) Middle English respit, from Old French, from Latin respectus “action of looking back, consideration, regard”; (for the verb) Middle English respiten, from Old French respitier, from Latin respectāre “to await, keep looking around,” from respicere “to look back”; see respect
Explanation
A respite is a break from something that's difficult or unpleasant. If you're cramming for exams, take an occasional walk to give yourself a respite from the intensity. Respite may look like it rhymes with despite, but this word has a stress on its first syllable (RES-pit). It comes from the Latin word respectus, meaning refuge, but we almost always use respite to describe a time, not a place, of relief. If you've been fighting with your partner, a visit from a friend might offer a brief respite from the argument, but the fight will pick up again when she leaves.
Vocabulary lists containing respite
"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe
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List 4
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"The Raven"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
This can last for years, even decades, and despite hopeful moments of decency and respite from perceived indifference, bad actors will show you who they are time and again, if you let them.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026
Lubinets said the truce was also bringing respite for the regional capital of Kherson, where around 280,000 people lived before the invasion.
From Barron's ● Oct. 28, 2026
There’s little respite to be found in the Chargers’ upcoming games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
This week could bring some respite to Treasurys, according to Williams, given the lack of issuance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Yet on the other hand the snowstorm might mean a respite, a happy wintertime vacation.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
They were blessed respites from the morning breakfast rush and carpool.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025
These six podcasts offer respites for your brain, delivering tales that are diverting enough to keep you focused, but uneventful enough that you can doze off.
From New York Times ● Nov. 30, 2024
Even for malaria the respites may be transient.
From Science Magazine ● Sep. 25, 2023
A smaller seaside resort flourished at Crescent Beach, just north of the White Rock beach resort town, with its own cluster of cottages, eateries and sandy respites.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 29, 2023
Her crimes had seemed minimal, but now Ophie could not help but see her afternoon respites through her mother’s eyes, and shame ran through her, hot and itchy.
From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland
She felt herself respited; yet doubly angry and apprehensive.
From Anne by Constance Fenimore Woolson
At his trial he pleaded guilty; but he was respited, and afterwards pardoned.
From Memoirs of the Jacobites of 1715 and 1745 Volume II. by Mrs. Thomson
He respited the execution of the prisoners; and on the case being reported to the king in council, the Bishop of Chester, Dr. Bridgman, was required to investigate the circumstances.
From Discovery of Witches The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster by Thomas Potts
For a few hours, then—possibly for a few days—he was respited.
From Major Vigoureux by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Yet as he knelt with the axe lifted above him, he was respited and banished to Siberia; and on his way thither a courier overtook him, bearing a pardon for him and his banished brothers.
From Historic Tales, Vol. 8 (of 15) The Romance of Reality by Charles Morris
By this simple sentence a flood of light is thrown on the fact of respiting him alone amongst the four men admittedly concerned in the rescue.
From The Dock and the Scaffold by Unknown
Then they made a last attempt in his favour, and voted for respiting the execution.
From Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2 by Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron Macaulay
The respiting of the burning of the hand till the king's pardon could be obtained was not to put him in a worse condition than he would have been in had he been actually burnt.
From State Trials Vol. 2 (of 2) Political and Social by Various
Then they made a last attempt in his favor, and voted for respiting the execution.
From Critical and Historical Essays, Volume III (of 3) by Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron Macaulay
"There is one strange fact about this," said the governor of the prison to Harkaway, "and that is, that one of the prisoners has taken the liberty of respiting himself."
From Jack Harkaway and His Son's Escape from the Brigand's of Greece by Bracebridge Hemyng
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