pause
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: enpr: pôz
ipa: /pɔːz/
enpr: pôz
ipa: /pɔz/
enpr: päz
ipa: /pɑz/
rhymes: -ɔːz
homophone: paws
homophone: pores
homophone: pours (non-rhotic)
Forms: form: pauses
form: pausing
form: paused
form: paused
Etymology: From Middle French pause, from Latin pausa, from Ancient Greek παῦσις (paûsis), from Ancient Greek παύω (paúō, “stop”), of uncertain origin. Doublet of pausa.
Senses: glosses: To take a temporary rest, take a break for a short period after an effort.
examples: text: The general public could therefore have been forgiven for thinking that work on the new station had stopped. But pausing work on an active construction site of this size is not straightforward.
ref: 2025 February 19, Chris Howe, “Euston: a work in progress”, in RAIL, number 1029, page 44:
glosses: To stop (an activity) for a while.
examples: text: When telling the scary story, he paused for effect.
text: Tarry, pause a day or two.
ref: c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
text: pausing a while thus to herself she mused
ref: 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
text: She paused and took a defiant breath. ‘If you don't believe me, I can't help it. But I'm not a liar.’ ¶ ‘No,’ said Luke, grinning at her. ‘You're not dull enough![…]What about the kid's clothes? I don't suppose they were anything to write home about, but didn't you keep anything? A bootee or a bit of embroidery or anything at all?’
ref: 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 15, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
text: Will this affect HS2 and other major projects?
[...] Work at the majority of sites has paused, although some staff may be present to ensure the safety and security of these sites and to make safety assessments. [...]
ref: 2020 April 8, “Network News: COVID-19: Questions and Answers”, in Rail, page 11:
glosses: To interrupt an activity and wait.
examples: text: Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture.
ref: c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
glosses: To hesitate; to hold back; to delay.
examples: text: to pause a song, a video, or a computer game
glosses: To halt the play or playback of, temporarily, so that it can be resumed from the same point.
examples: text: Take time to pause.
ref: c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
glosses: To consider; to reflect.
Derived terms: nonpausing
pausable
pausingly
prepause
unpause