to pause

Examples

• All

• "Dear Mother and Dad:" Ben paused, watching the parrots above him in his tent.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Can we pause the music a second, please?

  Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023)

• I like, maybe I need to pause here and show the audience.

  Megyn Kelly

• You can just stop, pause, look at her and say nothing.

  Apollonia Ponti

• But let's just pause for a moment, OK?

  Tom Scott

• The presenter hears the laughter, which causes him to pause before continuing.

  Academic text (2017)

• Constance turned to reach for his hand and paused at the look in his eyes.

  Fiction book (1990)

• I deposited the flowers I had bought at the subway station, paused for a moment, and left.

  Academic text (2008)

• Lily, on her way to the engineering link, paused beside the captain's chair.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Can we pause the video so I can take a phone call?

Synonyms

H

to hold on

vsto pause

• Informal

∞ 1.3

To wait for a short time during a phone call

means to stop an action oneself for a brief moment

I

to interrupt

vsto pause

909 2.5

To stop someone speaking or an activity

is a short controlled stop rather than an abrupt break

T

to take a break

vsto pause

496 1.4

To stop doing something for a short time to rest or relax before continuing

is any short stop that may not involve rest or relaxation

H

to hesitate

vsto pause

318 2.5

To pause before saying or doing something because you feel unsure

is a neutral short stop lacking uncertainty or indecision

S

to suspend

vsto pause

141 3.9

To stop something officially for a short time

is an informal brief stop rather than an official cessation

L

to leave off

vsto pause

• Informal

104 4.1

Stop doing something for a short time, for example at a point in a book

is a general brief interruption not tied to a fixed point

T

to take a moment

vsto pause

98 3.4

Stop for a short time to think, rest or remember something

is a general short interruption before continuing an action

B

to break off

vsto pause

50 3.2

To stop something suddenly before it is finished, for example a talk or relationship

usually describes a short interruption rather than a sudden end

H

to hit pause

vsto pause

• Informal

2 4.3

Temporarily stop an activity to rest or think

is a short stop without necessarily implying rest or planning

I

to intermit

vsto pause

8.9

To stop for a short time and then start again

has identical meaning and refers to a short temporary stop

Antonyms

C

to continue

∞ 1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

R

to resume

297 3.1

To start an activity again after a pause

Idioms

G

to give someone pause

22 6.4

To make someone stop and think carefully before deciding

Phrasal Verbs

H

to hit pause

• Informal

2 4.3

Temporarily stop an activity to rest or think

G

to give pause

1 5.8

To make someone hesitate before acting

How Long

stop

310 1.0

to halt

206 2.4

to pause

346 1.0

to hesitate

318 2.5

Surface Forms

Etymology