Macready pause

noun

A brief pause during the delivery of a speech in a play, to make the speaking seem more natural.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounMacready pause (plural Macready pauses)

plural Macready pauses

  1. entertainmentA brief pause during the delivery of a speech in a play, to make the speaking seem more natural.

Origin

Named after William Macready (1793–1873), English actor.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Macready pause. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Macready%20pause

MLA

“Macready pause.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Macready%20pause. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Macready pause,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Macready%20pause.

Source: Macready pause on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.