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

It came as respite for Gulf shipping and the oil industry, with international benchmark Brent dropping six percent to around $86 a barrel.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

The price of home heating oil is on the rise again after a period of respite.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

A Police Scotland statement said Nethy Bridge residents were being directed to a dedicated respite centre at the Macdonald Aviemore Hotel and access roads into Nethy Bridge had been closed.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

France is sweltering in the third major heatwave in less than two months, with Paris expected to see temperatures of 35C Tuesday and a slight respite only awaited later in the week.

From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026

This involved long hours, late into the night, with barely any respite.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

There were brief respites, but things seldom got easier: “The wind whipped up at noon and sleet came smacking down,” Mr. Tesson recalls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025

Last decade he toured big European venues and festivals between respites in Berlin or California.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 21, 2024

Even for malaria the respites may be transient.

From Science Magazine ● Sep. 25, 2023

In a movie that starts at fever pitch and rarely relents, these grisly interludes, captured by Larry Smith’s glowering camera, offer strangely haunting respites from the plot’s general chaos.

From New York Times ● Mar. 9, 2023

During his incarceration in Japan, the only respites Bobby had from boredom and emotional turmoil were the visits from his lawyers and Miyoko, and his use of the telephone.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

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

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

But convicts, who have been respited from a capital sentence, shall in no case be admitted into this class until, upon the representation of the commandant, their sentence shall have been mitigated by the governor.

From The History of Tasmania , Volume II by West, John

On leaving the chapel Warwick was taken back to his room, and learned that he was respited.

From The Reign of Mary Tudor by Rhys, Ernest

He has not been forgiven; he has only been respited.

From The Parables of Our Lord by Arnot, William

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

"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

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 favor, and voted for respiting the execution.

From Critical and Historical Essays, Volume III (of 3) 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

Related Words

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