pause
pawz
Pause (verb) means to stop something briefly, intending to continue later. Example: “We paused our walk beside the river to admire the view.”
verb
1
To stop something briefly, intending to continue later.
"We paused our walk beside the river to admire the view."
"She paused the film to answer the door."
"He paused for a moment before answering the question."
noun
1
A short break or halt in an activity, or the button that creates one.
"After a long pause, the speaker smiled and continued with her story."
"There was an awkward pause before anyone spoke."
"Hit the pause button if you need to grab a snack."
How to use pause
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA temporary stop, or to make one.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
pause for thought
a brief pause
hit pause
a pregnant pause
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- pauses
- Past tense
- paused
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We _____ our walk beside the river to admire the view.
Etymology
From Latin pausa, itself from Greek pausis ("stopping"), related to the verb pauein ("to stop").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for pause
See all rhymes for pause →Frequently asked questions
What does “pause” mean?
The word “pause” means to stop something briefly, intending to continue later. In plain terms, a temporary stop, or to make one.
How do you pronounce “pause”?
“Pause” is pronounced pawz (/pɔːz/ in IPA).
How do you use “pause” in a sentence?
Here is “pause” used in a sentence: “She paused the film to answer the door.”
What part of speech is “pause”?
Depending on how it is used, “pause” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “pause” come from?
The word “pause” comes from Latin. From Latin pausa, itself from Greek pausis ("stopping"), related to the verb pauein ("to stop").
Is “pause” a common word?
“Pause” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “pause” have?
“Pause” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to stop something briefly, intending to continue later.
What is the difference between "pause" and "stop"?
To pause is to stop something briefly with the intention of continuing later, while to stop can mean ending it altogether. That is why media players have separate pause and stop buttons: pause holds your place, stop ends playback.
What is the difference between a "pause" and a "break"?
A pause is a very short halt in an activity, often only moments long, while a break is usually a longer, planned interruption taken for rest, such as a lunch break. You pause mid-sentence; you take a break from work.
Are "pause" and "paws" pronounced the same?
Yes — "pause" and "paws" are homophones in most accents of English. Context makes the meaning clear: a pause is a short halt in an activity, while paws are animals' feet, so mixing them up is purely a spelling slip.
