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

---

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

---

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

At first, these carefree interludes seem to be a welcome respite from “Queen at Sea’s” choking anxiety.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

Families in Kyiv turn to medicine to get some respite from the stress mounting each year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026

Yet the troop rotations and resupply efforts show that neither side is expecting Oleshky to be a blueprint for lasting respite in the future.

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2026

This can last for years, even decades, and despite hopeful moments of decency and respite from perceived indifference, bad actors will show you who they are time and again, if you let them.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

This isn’t mindless entertainment, meant to give us some respite from grueling work.

From "Red Queen" by Victoria Aveyard

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

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

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

From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson

He pleaded benefit of clergy, and was respited, and instead of his original sentence was burnt in the hand.

From Curious Punishments of Bygone Days by Alice Morse Earle

She felt herself respited; yet doubly angry and apprehensive.

From Anne by Constance Fenimore Woolson

He was respited however until the issue of a court-martial, promised to be held on Capt.

From Toronto of Old by Henry Scadding

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 John Hayward

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

"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

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

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

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

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

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

---