pause

[pawz]

noun

1. a temporary stop or rest, especially in speech or action.

   a short pause after each stroke of the oar.

   Synonyms: lacuna, hiatus, halt, break, interruption, suspension

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

   Synonyms: lacuna, hiatus, halt, break, interruption, suspension

3. any comparatively brief stop, delay, wait, etc..

   I would like to make a pause in my talk and continue after lunch.

   Synonyms: lacuna, hiatus, halt, break, interruption, suspension

4. 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.

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

6. Music.,  a fermata.

verb (used without object)

paused, pausing 

1. 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.

   Synonyms: rest

2. to dwell or linger (usually followed by on orupon ).

   to pause upon a particular point.

   Synonyms: delay, tarry

pause

/ pɔːz /

verb

1. to cease an action temporarily; stop

2. to hesitate; delay

   she replied without pausing

noun

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

2. prosody another word for caesura

3. Also called: fermata. music a continuation of a note or rest beyond its normal length

4. to cause to hesitate

Other Word Forms

• pausal adjective
• pauseful adjective
• pausefully adverb
• pauseless adjective
• pauselessly adverb
• pauser noun
• pausingly adverb
• nonpause noun
• unpausing adjective
• pausing noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pause¹

First recorded in 1400–50; (for the noun) Middle English, from Latin pausa, from Greek paûsis “a halt,” from paú(ein) “to stop” + -sis -sis; verb derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pause¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. give pause, to cause to hesitate or be unsure, as from surprise or doubt.

   These frightening statistics give us pause.

see give pause.

Example Sentences

The prime minister said the nation would pause "to honour all those who have served our country".

Read more on BBC

"These findings warrant pause for reflection, as the extent of the effect of neonics on human health is not yet fully understood," said Sanchez, who will graduate in fall 2025.

Read more on Science Daily

Jackson’s order remains in effect until the First Circuit decides whether to place a longer-term pause on McConnell’s ruling.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Oil prices rose as OPEC+ paused plans for increasing output.

Read more on Barron's

Oil prices rose as OPEC+ paused plans for increasing output.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• breathing space 
• halt 
• hesitation 
• hiatus 
• hitch 
• interlude 
• intermission 
• interruption 
• interval 
• lapse 
• layoff 
• letup 
• lull 
• recess 
• respite 
• stoppage 
• suspension