Definition

Noun: 1. A short, officially permitted pause in an activity, especially a sports game: A temporary stoppage of play, typically called by a team or official for strategic reasons, such as to discuss tactics, rest players, or disrupt an opponent's momentum. 2. A brief period of rest or cessation from regular activity: Used more broadly to describe a planned break from work, study, or a stressful situation to regroup and recover.

Examples of Usage

• The coach called a time-out with only five seconds left in the game to draw up a final play.
• In basketball, each team is allowed a limited number of time-outs per half.
• (General usage) I'm feeling overwhelmed; I need to take a time-out from this project for a few minutes.
• The teacher gave the upset child a time-out to calm down in a quiet corner.

Advanced Usage

• "To call a time-out": To officially request or signal for a temporary pause in an activity.
  • The player signaled to the referee to call a time-out.
• "To be in time-out": Describes the state of being in a period of enforced pause, often used in child discipline.
  • The child is in time-out for not sharing his toys.

Variants and Related Words

• Timeout (noun): A common alternative spelling, often used in computing to mean a period allowed for a process to occur before it is aborted.
  • The server connection failed due to a network timeout.
• Time-out period (noun phrase): The specific duration of the pause.

Synonyms

• Break: A pause or interval.
• Intermission: A pause between parts of a performance.
• Halt: A temporary stop.
• Respite: A short period of rest or relief.

Related Phrases

• Take five: (Idiom) To take a short break.
  • Let's take five and continue the meeting in ten minutes.
• Cooling-off period: A time to become calm before taking action.
  • After the argument, they agreed to a cooling-off period.

Noun

1. a brief suspension of play
   • each team has two time-outs left