pause

Pluralpauses

Formspauses, pausing, paused

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A short stop or rest before something starts again.

   Like the quiet moment between two songs.

   There was a short pause before she answered the question.

   After a pause, the music started again.

   Similarrecess, hiatus, moratorium, caesura

2. 2
   verbintransitive

   To stop and rest for a short time after working or moving.

   Like a runner stopping for water in the middle of a race.

   We paused at the top of the hill to catch our breath.

   Let's pause for a minute before we carry the next box.

   Similarrest, stop, halt

   Note
3. 3
   verbtransitive

   To stop an activity for a short time.

   The coach paused the practice to explain the new drill.

   Let's pause the meeting and eat lunch.

   Similarhalt, suspend, stop, interrupt

   Oppositeresume, continue

   Note
4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To stop a video, song, or game for a moment so you can start it again from the same place.

   She paused the movie to answer the phone.

   Pause the song if you need to talk.

   Similarstop

   Oppositeresume, play

5. 5
   verbintransitive

   To stop what you are doing and wait for a moment.

   The speaker paused until everyone was quiet.

   Pause at the door and wait for the signal.

   Similarstop, halt, break, wait

   Oppositecontinue, proceed

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable

   A short break when you relax or do something different.

   Like halftime in a game, when players rest before playing again.

   We took a pause from homework and played outside for a while.

   Dad needed a pause, so he made tea and sat in the yard.

   Similarbreak, vacation, holiday, recess, leave

7. 7
   verbintransitive

   To wait a moment because you are not sure what to do.

   He paused at the door, not sure if he should knock.

   If you pause too long, someone else will take the last seat.

   Similarhesitate, falter, waver

8. 8
   nounfigurativelyuncountable

   A feeling of doubt that makes you stop and think.

   Like stopping with one foot in the air because you are not sure the ice is safe.

   The dog's growl gave me pause before I opened the gate.

   He agreed without pause, sure it was the right choice.

   Similarhesitation, wavering, vacillation

   Note
9. 9
   noununcountable

   Lowercase form of Pause, the button that stops and restarts a video or song.

   Press pause if you need to leave the room for a minute.

   She hit pause and went to answer the door.

   Note
10. 10
    nouncountable

    A mark in writing, like a comma or period, that shows where to stop when reading.

    Like a stop sign for your voice when you read out loud.

    The teacher showed us where each pause goes in the sentence.

    A comma is the most common pause in writing.

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