1
: a temporary stop
2
a
: a break in a verse
b
: a brief suspension of the voice to indicate the limits and relations of sentences and their parts
3
: temporary inaction especially as caused by uncertainty : hesitation
4
a
: the sign denoting a fermata
b
: a mark (such as a period or comma) used in writing or printing to indicate or correspond to a pause of voice
5
: a reason or cause for pausing (as to reconsider)
a thought that should give one pause
6
: a function of an electronic device that pauses a recording
Synonyms
Examples of pause in a Sentence
Noun
There was a brief pause in the conversation.
After a pause the teacher continued the lesson.
He hit pause on the player and explained the significance of the song's lyrics.
Please hit the pause button on the remote control.
Verb
She paused for a few seconds before crossing the street.
We paused briefly to look at the scenery.
He talked for over an hour without pausing.
He picked up the remote control and paused the movie.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jonaki Mehta, NPR, 19 Nov. 2024
But the return of Terry Silver and that horrible Sekai Taikai tragedy seemed to put any hope for romance on pause, at least for now.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 19 Nov. 2024
John Bleasdale, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
Gun audio stops working when the weapon wheel is opened and only resumes when the game is paused then resumed.
—Issy Van Der Velde, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pause 
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Noun
For months now, 8 million borrowers enrolled in SAVE have been on pause, not being asked to make payments while the courts slowly decide whether the repayment plan is legal.
—Jonaki Mehta, NPR, 19 Nov. 2024
But the return of Terry Silver and that horrible Sekai Taikai tragedy seemed to put any hope for romance on pause, at least for now.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 19 Nov. 2024
Verb
The protesters pause for Friday prayers at the sit-in.
—John Bleasdale, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024
Gun audio stops working when the weapon wheel is opened and only resumes when the game is paused then resumed.
—Issy Van Der Velde, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pause
Articles Related to pause
Dictionary Entries Near pause
Cite this Entry
“Pause.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pause. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pause
1 of 2 noun1
: a temporary stop or rest
2
: the sign {fermata} placed over or under a musical note, chord, or rest to show that it is to be held longer than usual
3
: a reason for pausing
a thought that should give pause
pause
2 of 2 verb
paused; pausing
1
: to stop temporarily
2
: to linger for a time
pause on a high note
Etymology
Noun
Middle English pause "a temporary stop, pause," from Latin pausa "a pause" — related to repose entry 1
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