v2.0

⏸️⏸️ Pause Button Emoji EmojiUnicode: 23F8 FE0F

Represents a pause or break

Released in First introduced in Unicode 7.0 in 2014 and added to Emoji 1.0 in 2015.

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Meaning and Interpretation

"The ⏸️ emoji depicts the 'pause' button seen on many media players such as music or video players. It signifies holding the current state temporarily, stopping an activity or taking a short break. Beyond media control, it can be used in conversations to suggest a mental or emotional 'timeout', a pause in actions, or even in moments of reflection."

Symbolism

  • Media control: Pausing music or video.
  • Taking a breather: A short break from a task or conversation.
  • Reflection or stopping to think: Pausing to deeply consider a matter before moving forward.

Common Usage Scenarios

  • When you want to indicate that you're taking a quick break while working or studying.
  • In a situation where a conversation gets intense and needs a moment to cool down.
  • To imply that you are pausing an activity, like stopping a show or music momentarily.

Usage Examples in Conversation

I'm in the middle of something, but I'll check it out in a second ⏸️
Let's take a pause and discuss this when we're calmer. ⏸️
Gotta pause the show to grab a snack ⏸️
Hang on, need to pause the music and grab my headphones. ⏸️
We should pause this conversation and revisit later. ⏸️

Usage Guidelines and Etiquette

  • Use it to indicate temporary pauses or interruptions, not permanent stops.
  • Avoid overusing it to prevent confusion, especially in professional conversations where clarity is crucial.
  • While common in digital media contexts, it can be creatively used in emotional or conversational pauses too.

Related Emojis

⏯️

Play/Pause Button

Represents toggling between playing and pausing, often in music or video.

⏹️

Stop Button

Indicates the end of an activity or media file.

Rewind Button

Symbol of moving backwards, often for media or time.

Fast Forward Button

Symbol for quickly moving forward, often for media.

⏭️

Next Track Button

Suggests skipping to the next item in a list or sequence.

🔁

Repeat Button

Indicates the act of restarting or cycling through a sequence.

🏖️

Beach with Umbrella

Can represent taking a break or vacation.

😌

Relieved Face

Can be used to express calmness or relaxation, similar to taking a pause.

🛑

Stop Sign

Represents stopping an action or conversation.

🚫

Prohibited

Signals that something is forbidden or shouldn't continue.