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
Relevance
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
Ugonnaora Owoh, Essence, 30 June 2025
The Trump Administration had urged Canada to pause or eliminate the tax, which applies to any tech company making more than $15 million from Canadian internet users.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 June 2025
Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 12 July 2025
The pause in storms offers a critical window for search and recovery teams working along the Guadalupe River and surrounding areas.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pause
Verb
The collision left her hospitalized for an extended period with multiple injuries, forcing her to take a year off from business school and pause her academic pursuits.
—Ugonnaora Owoh, Essence, 30 June 2025
The Trump Administration had urged Canada to pause or eliminate the tax, which applies to any tech company making more than $15 million from Canadian internet users.
—Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 June 2025
Noun
After several delays and the project going on pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, the mural got underway and now her dream has come true.
—Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 12 July 2025
The pause in storms offers a critical window for search and recovery teams working along the Guadalupe River and surrounding areas.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause
Verb
-
Don’t hesitate to end partnerships with contractors who aren’t aligned with your vision or delivering results.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
In this way, the ellipsoid would change shape in jerky, hesitating motions, gradually exploring the space around it.—
Joseph Howlett,
Quanta Magazine,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
In the depths of life’s lulls, it was forgotten, left in a bun for days, dry, untouched.—
Sophie Meharenna,
Allure,
2 July 2025
-
Allocations will be adjusted dynamically with gold exposure increasing during crypto market downturns, and bitcoin exposure increasing when gold is in a lull period.—
Aaron Stanley,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
On the other hand, hesitation or half-measures will send a clear signal to founders and investors that Israel is content to watch from the sidelines.—
Tomer Niv,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
Despite starting from a neutral position roughly three yards off his line, John shows no hesitation in extending himself nearly 10 yards to reach the edge of his penalty spot and claim the ball with authority.—
Matt Pyzdrowski,
New York Times,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
The 6-foot-7, 282-pound Judge is on pace to break his AL record of 62 homers set in 2022.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
14 July 2025
-
Set clear expectations from the start, include payment terms in your contract, and don’t be afraid to offer options like a discount for paying up front or a payment plan that breaks bills up into more manageable payments.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Lily rolled over, now, onto her back, away from her husband’s meticulous ledgers, and tried to capture her breath, which along with her heart, these days, had the habit of running away from her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 July 2025
-
But what matters most is that the movie is fun, pacy and enjoyable, a breath of fresh air sweetened by a deep affection for the material and boosted by a winning trio of leads.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
This public mandate for bold climate action stands in sharp contrast to the political hesitancy now on display.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2025
-
While the #MeToo movement has set the stage for French society to listen when survivors of abuse come forward, there is still some hesitancy within families to accept what happened at Bétharram.—
Colette Davidson,
Christian Science Monitor,
13 May 2025
Noun
-
But phone calls, spam and constant interruptions get in the way.—
Minna Hu,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
Usually lawmakers have around five minutes to offer their remarks without interruption.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
Noun
-
Several major automakers are investing billions of dollars into American EV production despite the U.S. hesitance to adopt EVs.—
Charles Singh,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
-
Despite hesitance from some Republican senators, all of Trump’s nominees who have come for a vote on the floor have been confirmed, even his most contentious picks.—
Elizabeth Crisp,
The Hill,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pause. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share