PAUSE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for PAUSE?

Need another word that means the same as “pause”? Find 33 synonyms and 30 related words for “pause” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Pause” are: hesitate, break, intermit, stop, cease, halt, discontinue, break off, take a break, take a breath, intermission, interruption, suspension, cessation, stoppage, standstill, check, lull, respite, stay, breathing space, discontinuation, discontinuance, hiatus, gap, lapse, lapse of time, interlude, interval, entr'acte

Pause as a Noun

Definitions of "Pause" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “pause” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something.
• A mark over a note or rest that is to be lengthened by an unspecified amount.
• Temporary inactivity.
• A control allowing the temporary interruption of recording, playback, or other process.
• A temporary stop in action or speech.

Synonyms of "Pause" as a noun (23 Words)

break	An instance of breaking something or the point where something is broken. I need a break from mental activity.
breathing space	The bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation.
cessation	The fact or process of ending or being brought to an end. A cessation of animal testing of cosmetics.
check	A move by which a piece or pawn directly attacks the opponent s king and by which the king may be checkmated. There was no check to the expansion of the market.
discontinuance	The act of discontinuing or breaking off; an interruption (temporary or permanent.
discontinuation	The action of ceasing to do or provide something, especially something that has been provided on a regular basis. There were no serious adverse events and no drug discontinuations.
entr'acte	The interlude between two acts of a play.
gap	A difference, especially an undesirable one, between two views or situations. There are many gaps in our understanding of what happened.
halt	A minor stopping place on a local railway line. A bus screeched to a halt.
hiatus	A pause or break in continuity in a sequence or activity. There was a brief hiatus in the war with France.
interlude	An intervening period or episode. An orchestral interlude.
intermission	The act of suspending activity temporarily. He was granted an intermission in his studies.
interruption	An act, utterance, or period that interrupts someone or something. She ignored the interruption and carried on.
interval	A component of activity in interval training. An interval of mourning.
lapse	The termination of a right or privilege through disuse or failure to follow appropriate procedures. Tracing his lapse into petty crime.
lapse of time	A mistake resulting from inattention.
lull	A temporary interval of quiet or lack of activity. For two days there had been a lull in the fighting.
respite	The act of reprieving; postponing or remitting punishment. The refugee encampments will provide some respite from the suffering.
standstill	An interruption of normal activity. The traffic came to a standstill.
stay	A period of staying somewhere in particular of living somewhere temporarily as a visitor or guest. There is likely to be a good public library as a stay against boredom.
stop	The act of stopping something. In England they call a period a stop.
stoppage	An obstruction in a pipe or tube. One machine gun crew had a stoppage.
suspension	Temporary cessation or suspension. The suspension of military action.

Usage Examples of "Pause" as a noun

• He chattered away without pause.
• She dropped me outside during a brief pause in the rain.

Pause as a Verb

Definitions of "Pause" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “pause” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing.
• Cease an action temporarily.
• Interrupt action or speech briefly.
• Temporarily interrupt the operation of (a process or device.

Synonyms of "Pause" as a verb (10 Words)

break	Break down literally or metaphorically. Break a branch from a tree.
break off	Fracture a bone of nicecutisours.
cease	Come or bring to an end. On his retirement the job will cease to exist.
discontinue	Cease taking (a newspaper or periodical) or paying (a subscription). The ferry service was discontinued by the proprietors.
halt	Come to a halt stop moving. She halted in mid sentence.
hesitate	Interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing. He hesitated to spoil the mood by being inquisitive.
intermit	Suspend or discontinue (an action or practice) for a time. He was urged to intermit his application.
stop	Cause to stop. You ll have to stop the night.
take a break	Admit into a group or community.
take a breath	Pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives.

Usage Examples of "Pause" as a verb

• She had paused a tape on the VCR.
• She paused, at a loss for words.
• The speaker paused.
• We pause for station identification.

Associations of "Pause" (30 Words)

abeyance	Temporary cessation or suspension. Matters were held in abeyance pending further enquiries.
cease	Cease is a noun only in the phrase without cease end. They were asked to cease all military activity.
cessation	The fact or process of ending or being brought to an end. A cessation of the thunder.
crippled	(of a person) unable to walk or move normally; disabled. His rule left the country with a crippled economy.
deadlock	Secure a door with a deadlock. The meeting is deadlocked.
desist	Choose not to consume. Each pledged to desist from acts of sabotage.
discontinue	Cease taking (a newspaper or periodical) or paying (a subscription). The ferry service was discontinued by the proprietors.
halt	Come to a halt stop moving. A bus screeched to a halt.
halting	Fragmentary or halting from emotional strain. She speaks halting English with a heavy accent.
hesitate	Pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness. He hesitated to spoil the mood by being inquisitive.
hiatus	A missing piece (as a gap in a manuscript. There was a brief hiatus in the war with France.
impasse	A situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible. Reached an impasse on the negotiations.
intermission	A time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something. He was granted an intermission in his studies.
interruption	Some abrupt occurrence that interrupts an ongoing activity. Students returning to education after an interruption in their career.
lame	Make a person or animal lame. She wore a gold lame dress.
momentarily	At any moment. As he passed Jenny s door he paused momentarily.
predicament	A situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one. The club s financial predicament.
preside	Act as president. Preside over companies and corporations.
quandary	A difficult situation; a practical dilemma. A legal quandary.
respite	Grant a respite to someone especially a person condemned to death. Some poor criminal from the gibbet or the wheel respited for a day.
rest	An instance or period of resting. I m going to rest up before travelling to England.
stalemate	Subject to a stalemate. The war had again reached stalemate.
stanch	Stop the flow of a liquid.
standstill	A situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible. The traffic came to a standstill.
stasis	An abnormal state in which the normal flow of a liquid (such as blood) is slowed or stopped. Creative stasis.
stop	A short length of rope used to secure something a stopper. Stop the project.
suspension	Temporary cessation or suspension. The agitator in the vat keeps the slurry in suspension.
unmoving	Not arousing emotions. Claudia sat unmoving behind her desk.
waken	Cause to become awake or conscious. She wakened the child and dressed her.
walkout	A sudden angry departure, especially as a protest or strike. Opposition MPs staged a walkout during the budget session.