as in to hesitate
to come to a temporary halt in one's activity he paused for a moment to regain his composure
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in lull
a momentary halt in an activity there was a brief pause for applause in her speech
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hesitation
a state or an instance of temporary inaction because of uncertainty about the right course of action the question caught the professor off guard, and there was a pause before he responded
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pause
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026 Within a few weeks of starting the treatments, O’Neal was walking without gasping and talking without pausing to gobble air. —Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Azhar Sukri,kevin Breuninger,terri Cullen, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026 The true significance of Pakistan's intervention only became clear when both sides agreed to a pause shortly after a down-to-the-wire plea from the country's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif. —Betsy Joles, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pause
Verb
Others — All-Star free agent Gabby Williams and 2025 top pick Justė Jocytė — will arrive later from international play, but the group didn’t feel paused. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026 Within a few weeks of starting the treatments, O’Neal was walking without gasping and talking without pausing to gobble air. —Courtney Crowder, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026
Noun
Israel's insistence that the ceasefire in Iran does not include a pause in its fighting with Hezbollah has threatened to sink the deal. —Azhar Sukri,kevin Breuninger,terri Cullen, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026 The true significance of Pakistan's intervention only became clear when both sides agreed to a pause shortly after a down-to-the-wire plea from the country's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif. —Betsy Joles, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause
Verb
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That’s why Jacobs coach Jamie Murray didn’t hesitate to give him a start.— Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
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But don’t hesitate to shop — many colors and sizes are selling quickly.— Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 18 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Not all parts of the country seem to have the same pattern, although the data points to school breaks as relative lulls.— Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2026
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Artemi Panarin – aka Bread Man, in a play on Panera Bread – dragged the top line and power-play units back into the fight after a lull as well.— Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 18 Apr. 2026
Noun
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What made the league’s hesitation so baffling is that Clark’s rise lifts everyone around her.— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
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But when Niesen presented the plans to the abbot of the monastery, he was met with hesitation.— Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Palace created little, with a functional midfield failing to break the lines and play balls in behind a defence that was comfortable sitting relatively deep.— Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2026
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Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert’s bid for a fifth DPOY award — which would break a record — will continue for at least one more year.— Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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While people slowed down and tried to catch their breath, the robots just stood there like nothing happened.— Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
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Jonathan Gray sounds a little out of breath as the snow falls around him.— Rachel Ventresca, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Despite Pickford’s relative hesitancy to engage aerially, Everton have been one of the most effective teams in the league at defending corners, conceding just five goals, the joint third fewest in the Premier League.— Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
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This hesitancy is showing up in the market.— Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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That means fewer interruptions and a smoother flow.— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
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Federal research grants have started to flow again, after major interruptions over the past several months.— Caleb Hellerman, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Shares of McCormick fell 6% in morning trading, while Unilever's stock down 4%, reflecting investors' hesitance about the mega-merger.— Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
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That likely means there won’t be any hesitance by Stammen to use his higher-leverage relievers today and tomorrow.— Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/pause. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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