“Pause” vs. “Stop”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “pause” and “stop”

  • "Pause" is a temporary halt, while "stop" is a conclusive end.
  • A pause allows you to resume later where you left off, whereas stopping ends the process entirely.
  • A pause is usually employed where there is an intention to return to the action, while stopping doesn't imply a possible continuation.
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What is the definition of “pause” and “stop”?

Pause
  • The action of temporarily ceasing something.
  • It halts the execution of a task or process.
  • The state in which an activity or action has been stopped for a certain period of time.
Stop
  • The act of bringing something to an end or halt.
  • To complete the termination of a course or event.
  • To halt an ongoing action or process entirely.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Stop” is the more popular variant on the web.
Pause
534,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. Let's pause the movie for a moment. I need to grab some snacks.
  2. She decided to pause her studies to travel the world.
  3. His speech was interrupted by several pauses as he became emotional.
More popular
Stop
4,090,000,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. Please stop talking during the movie; it's distracting.
  2. The car suddenly stopped in the middle of the road, causing a traffic jam.
  3. He knew he needed to stop eating junk food if he wanted to have a healthy lifestyle.
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