paws

P3A1W4S1
UK/pɔːz/US/pɑːz/

noun

pause, used in contexts of animals with paws

Less commonScrabble 9

Meanings

paws1

noun
  1. pluralplural of paw
verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of paw

paws2

noun
  1. humorousinformalpause, used in contexts of animals with paws

    His life just got put on paws.

    2017, Brian Tallerico, editor, Magill's Cinema Annual 2017 36th Edition: A Survey of the films of 2016, Gale, →ISBN, page 306
    4 more examples

    You fine folks here, particularly Joanne (mom to 14 rats) and Paghat, posted very passionate and informative articles, which gave me paws (pun intended) to think twice about the "advice" my vet had given me about pine shavings being safe for rattie's bedding.

    2003 November 24, Mark Mestman <guitarmakermark@yahoo.com>, “Trying Aspen Bedding.......”, in alt.pets.rodents.rats (Usenet), via Google Groups, archived from the original on 11 Jan 2026

    Watch a cat named Milo sabotage a purrfectly peaceful yoga routine in a video posted by a user named "jahzyoga" a "yoga teacher" and "jazz vocalist." Dare we suggest, maybe he was trying to hit the "paws" button?

    2014 March 13, Olivia B. Waxman, “WATCH: Cat Interrupts Yoga Session, Ruins the Mew-d”, in Time, via EBSCOhost, →ISSN

    [Title:] Press paws and relax at the best dog-friendly places in Britain

    2019 November 30, Alastair Sawday, “Press paws and relax at the best dog-friendly places in Britain”, in The Daily Telegraph, via EBSCOhost, →ISSN, page 7

    [Title:] Furry influencers will make you hit paws

    2023 January 9, Sara Moniuszko, “Furry influencers will make you hit paws”, in USA Today, via EBSCOhost, →ISSN
verbpaws (third-person singular simple present pawses, present participle pawsing, simple past and past participle pawsed)

present singular third person pawses · participle present pawsing · participle past pawsed · past pawsed

  1. humorousinformalto pause, used in contexts of animals with paws

    The Amazing Puppy Wizard has pawsed to think of EVERY THING, abHOWET dogs and behavior.

    2004 December 1, The Puppy Wizard <ThePuppyWizard@earthlink.net>, “Re: Re: 1 and a half year old german shepherd is afraid of our new house”, in rec.pets.dogs.misc (Usenet), via Google Groups, archived from the original on 11 Jan 2026
    3 more examples

    If you paws the game at a right moemnt you ger really interesting ScarSimba position results ;)^([sic])

    1998 June 28, Sichi/Sarafina <sichi@lionking.org>, “Re: (fwd) Stuck in Lion King Game "Be Prepared" (fwd)”, in alt.fan.lion-king (Usenet), via Google Groups, archived from the original on 11 Jan 2026

    After exchanging greetings with these two, I made my way slowly down the corridor to Phyllis Wallace's room, pawsing as usual at every wheelchair for the outstretched hands to pat my silky head.

    2011, Lynda Reynolds Fisher, “CHURCH DOG'S VISIT TO LIFE CARE CENTER, CHRISTMAS WEEK 2009”, in E-Mails From The Church Dog: Lessons From A Therapy Dog For The Ministry, WestBow Press, →ISBN, page 162

    [Title:] Paws and Reflect: Assessing the Impact of User Reviews and Ratings on Pet Food E-commerce Purchase Decisions

    2024 July 21, Ronnel Relao, Paula Sharmaine Delos Santos, “Paws and Reflect: Assessing the Impact of User Reviews and Ratings on Pet Food E-commerce Purchase Decisions”, in SEISENSE Business Review, volume 4, number 1, SEISENSE, →DOI, →ISSN, page 118

PAWS3

nounPAWS (uncountable)
  1. abbreviationacronymuncountableAcronym of pervasive arousal withdrawal syndrome.
  2. abbreviationacronymuncountableAcronym of post-acute-withdrawal syndrome.
proper noun
  1. PhilippinesabbreviationacronymAcronym of Philippine Animal Welfare Society.

Synonyms & antonyms

Origin

paws · noun, verb

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Full word history & related roots →

paws · noun, verb

Pun on pause sounding identical to paws (plural of paw).

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with paws

All rhymes →

Sounds the same

pauseporespours (non-rhotic)pauseporespours (non-rhotic)pauseporespours (non-rhotic)pauseporespours (non-rhotic)

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“paws.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paws. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “paws,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paws.

Source: paws on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.