pause — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To take a temporary rest, take a break for a short period after an effort.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

2. To stop (an activity) for a while.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The general public could therefore have been forgiven for thinking that work on the new station had stopped. But pausing work on an active construction site of this size is not straightforward.

3. To interrupt an activity and wait.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   When telling the scary story, he paused for effect.

   Tarry, pause a day or two.

   More examples (3)

   pausing a while thus to herself she mused

   She paused and took a defiant breath. ‘If you don't believe me, I can't help it. But I'm not a liar.’ ¶ ‘No,’ said Luke, grinning at her. ‘You're not dull enough![…]What about the kid's clothes? I don't suppose they were anything to write home about, but didn't you keep anything? A bootee or a bit of embroidery or anything at all?’

   Will this affect HS2 and other major projects? [...] Work at the majority of sites has paused, although some staff may be present to ensure the safety and security of these sites and to make safety assessments. [...]

4. To hesitate; to hold back; to delay.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture.

5. To halt the play or playback of, temporarily, so that it can be resumed from the same point.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   to pause a song, a video, or a computer game

   Press Start at any time to pause the game.

6. To consider; to reflect.

   Usage

   • Intransitive
   • Obsolete

   Examples

   Take time to pause.

Noun

1. A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation.

   Synonyms

   hiatusmoratoriumrecesscaesura

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   If the afternoon was fine they strolled together in the park, very slowly, and with pauses to draw breath wherever the ground sloped upward. The slightest effort made the patient cough.

2. A short time for relaxing and doing something else.

   Synonyms

   breakholidayrecess

3. Hesitation; suspense; doubt.

   Usage

   • Figurative

   Synonyms

   vacillationwavering

   Examples

   to take pause

   to give pause

   More examples (2)

   And like a man to double buſsines bound, / I ſtand in pauſe where I ſhall firſt beginne, […]

   The US House speaker, Mike Johnson, said on Sunday he would have “great pause” about granting a pardon or commutation to Ghislaine Maxwell while another House Republican said it should be considered as part of an effort to obtain more information about Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes.

4. In writing and printing, a mark indicating the place and nature of an arrest of voice in reading; a punctuation mark.

   Examples

   Teach the pupil to mind the pauses.

5. A break or paragraph in writing.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   He [Paul] is full of the Matter he treats and writes with Warmth, which uſually neglects Method, and thoſe Partitions and Pauſes which Men educated in the Schools of Rhetoricians uſually obſerve.

6. A sign indicating continuance of a note or rest.

Interjection

1. Used immediately after a statement to indicate that there was no innuendo or homosexual meaning intended, especially when such a meaning is a reasonable interpretation.

   Usage

   • Slang

   Synonyms

   no homo

Noun

1. a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

   Synonyms

   intermissionbreakinterruptionsuspension

   Broader terms

   time intervalinterval

2. temporary inactivity

   Broader terms

   inactivity

Verb

1. interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

   Synonyms

   hesitate

   Broader terms

   delay

   Examples

   The speaker paused

2. cease an action temporarily

   Synonyms

   intermitbreak

   Broader terms

   interruptdisruptbreak upcut off

   Examples

   We pause for station identification

   let's break for lunch