pause

[ pawz ]

/ pɔz /

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See synonyms for: pause / paused / pausing on Thesaurus.com

noun

a temporary stop or rest, especially in speech or action: a short pause after each stroke of the oar.

a cessation of activity because of doubt or uncertainty; a momentary hesitation.

any comparatively brief stop, delay, wait, etc.: I would like to make a pause in my talk and continue after lunch.

a break or rest in speaking or reading to emphasize meaning, grammatical relation, metrical division, etc., or in writing or printing by the use of punctuation.

Prosody. a break or suspension, as a caesura, in a line of verse.

Music. a fermata.

verb (used without object), paused, paus·ing.

to make a brief stop or delay; wait; hesitate: He paused at the edge of the pool for a moment. I'll pause in my lecture so we can all get some coffee.

to dwell or linger (usually followed by on or upon): to pause upon a particular point.

OTHER WORDS FOR pause

1-3 suspension, interruption, break, halt; hiatus, lacuna.

7 rest.

8 tarry, delay.

See synonyms for pause on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about pause

give pause, to cause to hesitate or be unsure, as from surprise or doubt: These frightening statistics give us pause.

Origin of pause

1400–50; (noun) Middle English <Latin pausa<Greek paûsis a halt, equivalent to paú(ein) to stop + -sis-sis; (v.) derivative of the noun

OTHER WORDS FROM pause

pausal, adjectivepauseful, adjectivepause·ful·ly, adverbpauseless, adjective

pause·less·ly, adverbpauser, nounpaus·ing·ly, adverbnon·pause, nounun·paus·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pause

pause , paws, pores, pours

Words nearby pause

paupiette, Paur, pauraque, pauropod, Pausanias, pause, pav, pavage, pavane, Pavarotti, Pavarotti, Luciano

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pause in a sentence

The Minnesota Wild, on pause for the past week, announced Thursday that it will reopen for team activities Friday.
NHL adds game-day rapid testing to coronavirus protocols|Samantha Pell|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
The one aspect of this dish that initially gave me pause was the tomatoes, given the time of year.
TikTok’s viral baked feta pasta is worth the hype|Aaron Hutcherson|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
Yes, I of course refer to the SEO industry and yes, you may take a small pause here to go through the above statement to see if it works.
The future of Google and what it means for search|Pete Eckersley|February 5, 2021|Search Engine Watch
Though Smith went 5-1 as a starter, the bone bruise that kept him from starting three of the year’s final four games gave everyone pause.
Finding the right QB is the first — and most crucial — task for Washington’s new front office|Les Carpenter|February 4, 2021|Washington Post

Saint Louis came off a month-plus pause and promptly lost at home to Dayton.
NCAA tournament bracketology: Two No. 1 seeds could go to teams outside power conferences|Patrick Stevens|February 2, 2021|Washington Post
But pause for a second, and look back at what these generations of regulators and lawmakers have created.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After a pause she invited me in with a warm smile, as if I were a neighbor.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I had to pause for sheep crossing the road, which is a common occurrence when driving through the Highlands of Scotland.
A Whisky Connoisseur Remembers That First Sip of The Macallan||December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
According to James Madison, there was “a considerable pause.”
Why We Can’t Quit Calling Presidents ‘Kings’|Kevin Bleyer|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We continuously pause to pull them out while Zalwar Khan and his companion smirk at us and chew unbothered.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After a minute's pause, while he stood painfully silent, she resumed in great emotion.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
In fact, his appearance was so formidable that Davy did not pause for a second look, but started off at the top of his speed.
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
There was a pause, during which Blanche went through a little mute exhibition of amazement and pleasure.
Confidence|Henry James
For who, while tears are falling, will pause to handle the wreaths, and find whether they are genuine?
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
There was a moment's pause, and Doa Inez returned into the saloon, which was now beginning rapidly to fill.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various

British Dictionary definitions for pause

pause

/ (pɔːz) /

verb (intr)

to cease an action temporarily; stop

to hesitate; delayshe replied without pausing

noun

a temporary stop or rest, esp in speech or action; short break

prosody another word for caesura

Also called: fermata music a continuation of a note or rest beyond its normal lengthUsual symbol:

give pause to to cause to hesitate

Derived forms of pause

pausal, adjectivepauser, nounpausing, noun, adjective

Word Origin for pause

C15: from Latin pausa pause, from Greek pausis, from pauein to halt

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 Idioms and Phrases with pause

pause

see give pause.

pause

OTHER WORDS FOR pause

Idioms about pause

Origin of pause

OTHER WORDS FROM pause

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pause

Words nearby pause

Words related to pause

How to use pause in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pause

Derived forms of pause

Word Origin for pause

Other Idioms and Phrases with pause