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respite

American  
[res-pit] / ˈrɛs pɪt /

noun

  1. a delay or cessation for a time, especially of anything distressing or trying; an interval of relief.

    to toil without respite.
    Synonyms:
    recess, rest, hiatus

  2. temporary suspension of the execution of a person condemned to death; reprieve.

    Synonyms:
    stay, postponement

verb (used with object)

respited, respiting

  1. to relieve temporarily, especially from anything distressing or trying; give an interval of relief from.

    Synonyms:
    alleviate

  2. to grant delay in the carrying out of (a punishment, obligation, etc.).

    Synonyms:
    suspend, postpone
respite British  
/ ˈrɛspɪt, -paɪt /

noun

  1. a pause from exertion; interval of rest

  2. a temporary delay

  3. a temporary stay of execution; reprieve

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to grant a respite to; reprieve

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • respiteless adjective
  • unrespited adjective

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”; respect

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.

This week’s sharp rebound in U.S. stocks is offering some welcome respite from the relentless selling that has rocked global markets over the past month.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Lithuania announced it would slash the price of domestic train tickets by half to provide travellers some respite from soaring fuel prices triggered by the war in the Middle East.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

It is but a momentary respite for the hard-pressed island.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

And even when I’ve been lucky enough to experience a respite from my illness, I’ve typically had to be on maintenance therapy to keep it in check.

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026

On the one hand, Koffi was grateful for the respite; the splendor had a distinctly fatiguing effect after a while.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.