time-out

noun

ˈtīm-ˈau̇t How to pronounce time-out (audio)
Definition of time-outnext
as in winter
a period of often involuntary inactivity or idleness we need to take a time-out from our relationship to think things over

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of time-out The move, effectively a brief legal time-out, will allow an appeals court panel time to consider equities on both sides of the dispute before considering whether or not to invalidate the tariffs while litigation continues. — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 12 May 2026 That’s with two new coaches in the league, including one new coach who never called a time-out. — Brian Robin, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026 You might be caught up trying to nurture someone (or something) while secretly needing a time-out for yourself. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026 With the duel tied at 88-88, the Aces called time-out with five seconds left. — Sean Gregory, Time, 10 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for time-out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for time-out
  1. winter
  2. break
  3. downtime
  4. lull
  5. pause
  6. layoff
Noun
  • California stands to experience its highest tide levels on record when this event peaks during the late fall through the winter.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Department of Homeland Security agents secretly recorded meetings held at churches, libraries, restaurants and schools across the Twin Cities during a surge in federal immigration enforcement last winter, according to government documents.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of winter
Noun
  • The team's official drumline, The Pack, pounded on illuminated drums during quarter breaks, while Skye, the team's sassy, blue-haired lioness mascot, jumped onto the T-shirt cannon to launch souvenir merchandise high into stadium seats.
    — Odette Yousef, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Mourinho also voiced concerns about the upcoming three-week international break, fearing player injuries.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of break
Noun
  • Veterinary care, training, enrichment and downtime happen largely outside public view, while social media offers a glimpse of the dog behind the title.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • This mobile title will give you something to do in the downtime at the celebration, but more than that, there’s also a Pokemon Go Scavenger Hunt that will net you an exclusive red 2026 Worlds T-shirt for your avatar.
    — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of downtime
Noun
  • Typically, the last weekend of August brings a bit of a lull – right after a popular Jeep expo and just before the Labor Day rush.
    — Rachel Siegel, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Birth of daughter and personal struggles Meanwhile, following a lull in her career in the late 1990s, Smith returned to the spotlight in 2000.
    — Imani Sumbi, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of lull
Noun
  • The Appalachian Trail Conservancy defines a thru-hike as completing all of the trail’s sections in any order within a year, allowing for pauses.
    — Holly Ramer, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This summer's pause in data reporting for Somalia came at a particularly precarious time.
    — Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of pause
Noun
  • The layoffs come as Ellison has been quietly rebuilding her business after several years of near-dormancy.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The move was not unexpected after the upstart tour filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice last month—a legal requirement to notify workers of potential layoffs.
    — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of layoff

Browse Nearby Words

timely
time-out
time-outs
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Cite this Entry

“Time-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/time-out. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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