Meanings
nounfilled pause (plural filled pauses)
plural filled pauses
- Any spoken sound or word used to fill gaps in speech.
Uh, um, and well are common filled pauses among English speakers.
Synonyms: filler, filler phrase, filler word, hesitation marker, planner
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAny spoken sound or word used to fill gaps in speech.
Cite this entry
APA
filled pause. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/filled%20pause
MLA
“filled pause.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/filled%20pause. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “filled pause,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/filled%20pause.
Source: filled pause on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.