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

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

respite respites respited respiting

Anecdotes and analysis are interspersed with photos of all sorts of sofas and couches, calling into question ideas about where and how we find respite and support — or not.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

The Middle East enjoyed a respite from violence after the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to pause their war in mid-June.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

Nearly six in 10 Canadians bought a home in Florida, which offers a warm and sunny respite from harsh Canadian winters, the NAR report found.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

Still, today has provided some respite from the norm.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Even there, in that home where lives were fading out, evening was a kind of wistful respite.

From "The Stranger" by Albert Camus

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025

As the insects spread across the state, patios and backyards morphed from respites into risky territories.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2025

Even for malaria the respites may be transient.

From Science Magazine ● Sep. 25, 2023

But these respites only emphasize a pervasive sense of confinement.

From New York Times ● Dec. 7, 2022

The only respites were when Mark, the utility boy, came in.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

In vain was the power of his dynasty overthrown by the Crusaders; in vain do the Seljukians disappear from the annals of the world; in vain is Constantinople respited; in vain is Europe saved.

From Historical Sketches, Volume I (of 3) The Turks in Their Relation to Europe; Marcus Tullius Cicero; Apollonius of Tyana; Primitive Christianity by Newman, John Henry

For a whole century God has respited mankind, that it might acknowledge the Founder of such a Revelation, espouse His Cause, proclaim His greatness, and establish His Order.

From The Promised Day Is Come by Shoghi Effendi

He was prevailed on to petition the council, upon which he was respited to the 30th, and from that to May 9th, when he suffered according to his sentence.

From Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies) A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots Worthies by Howie, John

Here the King restored Anselme to his former possessions; but his returne into England was respited, vntill the Pope had confirmed certaine things which Anselme did assure.

From The Lives of the III Normans, Kings of England: William the First, William the Second, Henrie the First by Hayward, John

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 Conrey, Lee F.

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 Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron

"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 Hemyng, Bracebridge

Then they made a last attempt in his favour, and voted for respiting the execution.

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

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

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

Related Words

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