Definition

Noun: 1. A short period of rest or cessation from an activity, especially work or a game: A designated pause taken to stop what one is doing, often for rest, recovery, or strategic planning. 2. A brief suspension of play in a sports game: In sports, a formal, short stoppage in the game called by a team or official, typically for strategy, rest, or to address an issue.

Usage Examples

• General Pause:
  • She took a time out from her studies to have a cup of tea.
  • The manager called for a time out during the intense meeting to allow everyone to regroup.
• Sports Context:
  • The basketball team used their final time out to draw up a play for the last shot.
  • The referee signaled for a time out due to an injury on the field.

Advanced Usage

• "To take/call (a) time out": This is the standard verb phrase used with the noun. It means to initiate or use a pause.
  • I need to take a time out; this problem is frustrating me.
  • The coach called time out with only two seconds left on the clock.

Variants and Related Words

• Time-out (noun): A common hyphenated spelling variant of "time out."
  • The child was given a time-out for misbehaving. (Note: This specific usage refers to a disciplinary technique for children, which is a related but distinct meaning involving a pause from activity as a consequence.)
• Break (noun): A general synonym for a pause or rest period.
• Recess (noun): A break between periods of activity, often used in an educational or formal context.
• Intermission (noun): A pause between parts of a performance or event.

Synonyms

• Pause
• Break
• Interlude
• Respite
• Halt
• Stoppage (specific to sports/games)

Related Phrases

• Call time: A phrase sometimes used in performance or event contexts to announce a break, related to the idea of pausing activity.
• Take five: An informal idiom meaning to take a short break.

Related Idioms

• "Time out of mind": This is an archaic idiom meaning a very long time, from time immemorial. It is not directly related to the modern concept of a short pause but shares the word "time."
  • That tradition has existed since time out of mind.

Noun

1. a pause from doing something (as work)
   • we took a 10-minute break
   • he took time out to recuperate