paused
She paused to catch her breath.
She stopped briefly in order to breathe again.
stopped an action or movement for a short time before continuing
He paused at the door, unsure whether to enter.
He stopped briefly at the entrance because he was uncertain.
The movie paused during the ad break.
The video stopped playing while commercials aired.
Implies the action is likely to resume later.
stopped a digital process or media playback temporarily
I paused the podcast to answer the phone.
I stopped the audio recording temporarily to take a call.
Common in computing and media contexts.
Collocations
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Temporary vs. Permanent
Remember that 'paused' implies a break with the intention to continue. If the action ends, use 'stopped'.
Gold Rule
Context Clue
If you can add 'for a moment' after the verb, 'paused' is likely the correct choice.
Word Origin
From Old French 'pauser', from Latin 'pausare' (to rest), from 'pausa' (rest, pause).
Usage Notes
Use 'paused' when the stop is temporary and expected to end. Use 'stopped' if the action ends completely.