verb
pause
pawz
verb
1
To stop something briefly, intending to continue later.
"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.
"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.
Common pairings
pause for thought
a brief pause
hit pause
a pregnant pause
Word Forms
paused past tense, Pauses plural, pauses singular
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She _____ the film to answer the door.
Etymology
From Latin pausa, itself from Greek pausis ("stopping"), related to the verb pauein ("to stop").