pause (pôz), n., v., paused, paus•ing. n. a temporary stop or rest, esp. in speech or action: a short pause after each stroke of the oar. a cessation of activity because of doubt or uncertainty; a momentary hesitation. any comparatively brief stop, delay, wait, etc.: I would like to make a pause in my talk and continue after lunch. a break or rest in speaking or reading to emphasize meaning, grammatical relation, metrical division, etc., or in writing or printing by the use of punctuation ... Pause definition: a temporary stop or rest, especially in speech or action.. See examples of PAUSE used in a sentence. The noun pause means "a short break," like the pauses in television shows that allow for commercials to be shown. Learn the meaning and usage of the word pause as a verb and a noun, with synonyms and pronunciation. Find out how to use pause in different contexts, such as speech, music, and writing.