# pause

> English word · Verb · IPA /pɔːz/ · frequency rank #7,166

## Definitions
1. To take a temporary rest, take a break for a short period after an effort.
2. To stop (an activity) for a while.
3. To interrupt an activity and wait.
4. To hesitate; to hold back; to delay.
5. To halt the play or playback of, temporarily, so that it can be resumed from the same point.
6. To consider; to reflect.

## 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.

## Easily confused with
- **pus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-pus)
- **plus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-plus)
- **push** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-push)
- **pure** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-pure)
- **pays** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-pays)
- **pose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-pose)
- **paws** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-paws)
- **Pune** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-pune)
- **puke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-puke)
- **pave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-pave)
- **puss** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-puss)
- **phase** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-phase)
- **pulse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-pulse)
- **purse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-purse)
- **Payne** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-payne)
- **prose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-prose)
- **plush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-plush)
- **plume** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-plume)
- **posse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-posse)
- **poise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/pause-vs-poise)

## Common misspellings (6)
`apuse`, `pasue`, `paues`, `pausse`, `ppause`, `puase`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/pause