pause

About 10.21 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To take a temporary rest, take a break for a short period after an effort.
2. verb To stop (an activity) for a while.
3. verb To interrupt an activity and wait.

   When telling the scary story, he paused for effect.

4. verb To hesitate; to hold back; to delay.
5. verb 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

6. verb To consider; to reflect.
7. noun A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation.
8. noun A short time for relaxing and doing something else.

Similar words

suspension intermit interruption hesitate break intermission respite hiatus stoppage letup

Often followed by

to and in for of before at a between

Word family

paused pauses pausing