diff --git a/src/components/toast/ToastContainer.tsx b/src/components/toast/ToastContainer.tsx
index 756879d..e0143e6 100644
--- a/src/components/toast/ToastContainer.tsx
+++ b/src/components/toast/ToastContainer.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { AnimatePresence, motion } from "framer-motion";
+import { X } from "lucide-react";
 import { springs } from "@/lib/motion";
 import { useToastStore } from "@/stores/toast-store";
 
@@ -10,9 +11,17 @@ const TYPE_STYLES = {
 
 export function ToastContainer() {
   const toasts = useToastStore((s) => s.toasts);
+  const removeToast = useToastStore((s) => s.removeToast);
+  const pauseToast = useToastStore((s) => s.pauseToast);
+  const resumeToast = useToastStore((s) => s.resumeToast);
 
   return (
-    <div className="pointer-events-none fixed bottom-4 right-4 z-[100] flex flex-col gap-2">
+    <div
+      className="pointer-events-none fixed bottom-4 right-4 z-[100] flex flex-col gap-2"
+      role="status"
+      aria-live="polite"
+      aria-atomic="true"
+    >
       <AnimatePresence>
         {toasts.map((toast) => (
           <motion.div
@@ -21,9 +30,20 @@ export function ToastContainer() {
             animate={{ opacity: 1, y: 0, scale: 1 }}
             exit={{ opacity: 0, y: 20, scale: 0.9 }}
             transition={springs.wobbly}
-            className={`pointer-events-auto rounded-lg border px-4 py-2 text-sm shadow-md ${TYPE_STYLES[toast.type]}`}
+            className={`pointer-events-auto flex items-center gap-2 rounded-lg border px-4 py-2 text-sm shadow-md ${TYPE_STYLES[toast.type]}`}
+            onMouseEnter={() => pauseToast(toast.id)}
+            onMouseLeave={() => resumeToast(toast.id)}
+            onFocus={() => pauseToast(toast.id)}
+            onBlur={() => resumeToast(toast.id)}
           >
-            {toast.message}
+            <span className="flex-1">{toast.message}</span>
+            <button
+              onClick={() => removeToast(toast.id)}
+              className="shrink-0 rounded p-0.5 transition-opacity hover:opacity-70"
+              aria-label="Dismiss notification"
+            >
+              <X className="size-3.5" />
+            </button>
           </motion.div>
         ))}
       </AnimatePresence>
diff --git a/src/stores/toast-store.ts b/src/stores/toast-store.ts
index f918f39..7ecedfa 100644
--- a/src/stores/toast-store.ts
+++ b/src/stores/toast-store.ts
@@ -12,9 +12,28 @@ interface ToastState {
   toasts: Toast[];
   addToast: (message: string, type?: ToastType) => void;
   removeToast: (id: string) => void;
+  pauseToast: (id: string) => void;
+  resumeToast: (id: string) => void;
 }
 
 let nextId = 0;
+const timers = new Map<string, ReturnType<typeof setTimeout>>();
+const remaining = new Map<string, number>();
+const startTimes = new Map<string, number>();
+
+const TOAST_DURATION = 8000;
+
+function startTimer(id: string, duration: number, set: (fn: (s: ToastState) => Partial<ToastState>) => void) {
+  startTimes.set(id, Date.now());
+  remaining.set(id, duration);
+  const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+    set((s) => ({ toasts: s.toasts.filter((t) => t.id !== id) }));
+    timers.delete(id);
+    remaining.delete(id);
+    startTimes.delete(id);
+  }, duration);
+  timers.set(id, timer);
+}
 
 export const useToastStore = create<ToastState>((set) => ({
   toasts: [],
@@ -22,12 +41,33 @@ export const useToastStore = create<ToastState>((set) => ({
   addToast: (message, type = "info") => {
     const id = String(++nextId);
     set((s) => ({ toasts: [...s.toasts, { id, message, type }] }));
-    setTimeout(() => {
-      set((s) => ({ toasts: s.toasts.filter((t) => t.id !== id) }));
-    }, 3000);
+    startTimer(id, TOAST_DURATION, set);
   },
 
   removeToast: (id) => {
+    const timer = timers.get(id);
+    if (timer) clearTimeout(timer);
+    timers.delete(id);
+    remaining.delete(id);
+    startTimes.delete(id);
     set((s) => ({ toasts: s.toasts.filter((t) => t.id !== id) }));
   },
+
+  pauseToast: (id) => {
+    const timer = timers.get(id);
+    const start = startTimes.get(id);
+    const rem = remaining.get(id);
+    if (timer && start != null && rem != null) {
+      clearTimeout(timer);
+      timers.delete(id);
+      remaining.set(id, rem - (Date.now() - start));
+    }
+  },
+
+  resumeToast: (id) => {
+    const rem = remaining.get(id);
+    if (rem != null && rem > 0) {
+      startTimer(id, rem, set);
+    }
+  },
 }));