respite
REHS-pyt
Respite (noun) means a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or demanding. Example: “The ceasefire gave civilians a brief respite from the fighting.”
noun
1
A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or demanding.
"The ceasefire gave civilians a brief respite from the fighting."
"She took a weekend away as a respite from work stress."
verb
1
To grant someone a delay or temporary relief from an obligation.
"The court agreed to respite the payment deadline by thirty days."
How to use respite
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA brief pause that gives you a break from something hard or stressful.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
brief respite
respite from
without respite
respite care
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Word forms
- Plural
- respites
- Third person singular
- respites
- Past tense
- respited
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ceasefire gave civilians a brief _____ from the fighting.
Etymology
From Old French respit, "rest, delay," ultimately from Latin respectus. It shares this Latin root with the word respect.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for respite
See all rhymes for 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.
