respite

10 synonyms for respite, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or demanding.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

rest break relief

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

suspension recess hiatus

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

reprieve time out abatement rest period

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or demanding.

“The ceasefire gave civilians a brief respite from the fighting.”

rest break relief suspension recess hiatus reprieve time out abatement rest period

2. verb

To grant someone a delay or temporary relief from an obligation.

“The court agreed to respite the payment deadline by thirty days.”

reprieve

How to use respite

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

brief respite respite from without respite respite care

Etymology

From Old French respit, "rest, delay," ultimately from Latin respectus. It shares this Latin root with the word respect.

Full origin of respite →

Frequently asked questions

What does “respite” mean?

The word “respite” means a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or demanding. In plain terms, a brief pause that gives you a break from something hard or stressful.

How do you pronounce “respite”?

“Respite” is pronounced REHS-pyt (/ˈɹɛs.pɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “respite” in a sentence?

Here is “respite” used in a sentence: “The ceasefire gave civilians a brief respite from the fighting.”

What part of speech is “respite”?

Depending on how it is used, “respite” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “respite” come from?

The word “respite” comes from Latin. From Old French respit, "rest, delay," ultimately from Latin respectus. It shares this Latin root with the word respect.

Is “respite” a common word?

“Respite” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “respite” have?

“Respite” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or demanding.

People also searched

rest break relief suspension recess hiatus abatement reprieve

Nearby words

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