pause Meaning & Definition
What Does Pause Mean?
Pause is used as a verb meaning To take a temporary rest, take a break for a short period after an effort. It can also mean To stop (an activity) for a while. As a noun, it means A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation. As an interjection, it means 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.
Pause in Brief
| Part of speech | verb, noun, interjection |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //pɔːz// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | break, hesitate and intermission |
| Plural | pauses |
| Verb forms | pauses, pausing, paused |
Pause Definition (Verb)
- To take a temporary rest, take a break for a short period after an effort.
- To stop (an activity) for a while.
- To interrupt an activity and wait.
When telling the scary story, he paused for effect.
- To hesitate; to hold back; to delay.
- To halt the play or playback of, temporarily, so that it can be resumed from the same point.
to pause a song, a video, or a computer game
- To consider; to reflect.
Pause as a Noun
- A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation.
- A short time for relaxing and doing something else.
- Hesitation; suspense; doubt.
to take pause
- In writing and printing, a mark indicating the place and nature of an arrest of voice in reading; a punctuation mark.
Teach the pupil to mind the pauses.
- A break or paragraph in writing.
- A sign indicating continuance of a note or rest.
- Alternative letter-case form of Pause (“a button that pauses or resumes something”).
Pause as an Interjection
- 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.
Noun
- A button whose functions are pausing and resuming something, such as a DVD player, a video game or a computer.
Noun
- (as direct object) take pause: hesitate; give pause: cause to hesitate
Synonyms of Pause
Antonyms of Pause
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Pause in a Sentence
When telling the scary story, he paused for effect.
to pause a song, a video, or a computer game
to take pause
to give pause
Teach the pupil to mind the pauses.
Word Forms & Grammar
pause (third-person singular simple present pauses, present participle pausing, simple past and past participle paused)
pause (plural pauses)
pause
Words That Rhyme With Pause
Origin of Pause
From Middle French pause, from Latin pausa, from Ancient Greek παῦσις (paûsis), from Ancient Greek παύω (paúō, “stop”), of uncertain origin. Doublet of pausa.
How Do You Say Pause?
The standard pronunciation of pause is //pɔːz//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Pause
Is pause a verb or a noun?
Pause is mainly used as a verb, but it can also be used as a noun and an interjection.
What is another word for pause?
Words with a similar meaning to pause include break, hesitate and intermission. See the full list of pause synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of pause?
The plural of pause is pauses.
What is the past tense of pause?
The past tense of pause is paused. The present participle is pausing.