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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of pause
Andrés Buenahora, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
Ford pulls reins on EV pickup Ford is pausing F-150 Lightning production from Nov. 18 to Jan. 6, responding to Tesla’s Cybertruck sales surge.
—Benzinga, Detroit Free Press, 2 Nov. 2024
Aliza Knox, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Earlier this week, Reuters reported that Israel was considering a U.S.-brokered deal for a 60-day pause in hostilities with Hezbollah, with the goal of securing a permanent end to the conflict during the pause.
Update 11/1/24, 7:47 p.m.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pause 
Verb
If at some point during the seven-minute clip viewers stop smiling, the responsive technology will pause the video.
—Andrés Buenahora, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
Ford pulls reins on EV pickup Ford is pausing F-150 Lightning production from Nov. 18 to Jan. 6, responding to Tesla’s Cybertruck sales surge.
—Benzinga, Detroit Free Press, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
Bet With Shanghai Property Purchase Covid-19 put a pause on rigid workplace rules.
—Aliza Knox, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Earlier this week, Reuters reported that Israel was considering a U.S.-brokered deal for a 60-day pause in hostilities with Hezbollah, with the goal of securing a permanent end to the conflict during the pause.
Update 11/1/24, 7:47 p.m.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pause
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pause
Verb
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But because spinners are so popular now, many hunters hesitate to run them, especially on pressured ducks.Joe Arterburn, Outdoor Life, 14 Nov. 2024
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Don’t hesitate to do your best and implement a change that stimulates personal growth or self-improvement.Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The defense overcame the offensive lull as safety Alohi Gilman grabbed his first interception of the season and Still got his first professional interception early in the fourth quarter.Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
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But the October lull — as most hunters perceive it — doesn’t exist.Mark Melotik, Outdoor Life, 10 Oct. 2024
Noun
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While the women are coming in oozing with persona and charisma, there is still a sense of hesitation in trying to mark their territory.Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
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In new partnerships, there’s often a sense of hesitation as both sides gauge each other’s commitment.Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
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As his questioning crosses taboos and boundaries, raising Sister Barnes’ hackles, cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung’s camera, which has been cutting between various degrees of close-up as the conversation progresses, breaks free from stasis.Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2024
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Analysts standing in front of a big electronic board counting votes and breaking them down state by state, county by county, in granular detail have now become an election night staple.Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
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But when compared to last year’s unreliable defense that failed to close out numerous close games, much less help accelerate blowouts, what the unit is doing this year is a breath of fresh air in Boulder.Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
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He’s been on oxygen for more than a decade and quickly gets short of breath.Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 13 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The event signals a substantial nod of confidence in Harris from a critical part of the LGBTQ+ community that has historically eyed her with hesitancy.Condé Nast, Them, 15 Aug. 2024
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Many attribute their hesitancy to the perception that physicians are unwilling or unable to help.Henry Bair, STAT, 31 July 2024
Noun
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Demonstrators unfurled banners and shouted slogans, but Harris turned the interruptions into an opportunity to reinforce her commitment to democracy.Nik Popli/Charlotte, N.C., TIME, 3 Nov. 2024
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The company has also filed motions with the Bankruptcy Court to continue its customer programs without interruption.David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Hollywood’s hesitance to fully embrace non-English programming remains a barrier, but that seems to have fallen this year.Clayton Davis, Variety, 16 Sep. 2024
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The Ransomware Surge and the Cost of Inaction Ransomware also remains a lucrative and low-risk endeavor for cybercriminals, fueled by organizations’ hesitance to disrupt their operations with preventive measures.Craig Burland, Forbes, 27 Sep. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pause. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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