paused

Verb

pause (third-person singular simple present pauses, present participle pausing, simple past and past participle paused)

1. (intransitive) To take a temporary rest, take a break for a short period after an effort.
2. (transitive) To stop (an activity) for a while.
   • 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.2025 February 19, Chris Howe, “Euston: a work in progress”, in RAIL, number 1029, page 44
3. (intransitive) To interrupt an activity and wait.
   • When telling the scary story, he paused for effect.
4. (intransitive) To hesitate; to hold back; to delay.
   • Why doth the Jew pause? Take thy forfeiture.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]...
5. (transitive) 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. (intransitive, obsolete) To consider; to reflect.
   • Take time to pause.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...

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