respite

American  

[res-pit] / ˈrɛs pɪt /

noun

• respites
  plural

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

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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

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• respiteless
  adjective
• unrespited
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• respites
  plural

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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

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

respite respites respited respiting

"I do not think he deserves a respite," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov added.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

There’s little respite to be found in the Chargers’ upcoming games.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026

"I've been trying to get some overnight respite as I want to be a mum to my girls as well as Zac," she said.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

These breaks are a welcome respite from long stretches of sitting and screen-based learning, which is common in some classrooms despite questions about its efficacy.

From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026

During all of her girlhood the only respite Nel had had from her stem and undemonstrative parents was Sula.

From "Sula" by Toni Morrison

They were blessed respites from the morning breakfast rush and carpool.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025

There are some respites from the training, the running and marching, the room full of tear gas, the dead man’s float test, the hand-to-hand combat, the flower planting.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 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

During one of these respites, Diana drew Lyddie to the nearest window.

From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson

Write to Major G. W. Lee, provost-marshal at Atlanta, and inquire why fourteen of the engine thieves were respited while the others were executed, and whether there is anything distinguishing their case.

From Capturing a Locomotive A History of Secrect Service in the Late War. by William Pittenger

But at the period of our story men were often respited for short or long periods, yet suffered at last.

From International Short Stories English by Various

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

Then Dorothy Thornton felt that the sand was running low in the hour glass of respited happiness and that the day when her husband must face his issue was terribly near.

From The Roof Tree by Lee F. Conrey

So, again I was respited; but I knew it to be only a respite, for the bushes were few, and I could find no sign of others or of t'samma.

From A Rip Van Winkle Of The Kalahari Seven Tales of South-West Africa by Frederick Cornell

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 favour, and voted for respiting the execution.

From Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches — Volume 2 by Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron Macaulay

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

"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

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

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Related Words

• breather
• breathing space
• downtime
• hiatus
• interruption
• layoff
• letup
• lull
• recess
• relaxation
• relief
• reprieve
• truce

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