pit stop

noun

1

: a stop at the pits during an automobile race

2

a(1)

: a stop (as during a trip) for fuel, food, or rest or for use of a restroom

(2)

: a temporary deviation from a direct or usual course

… a career pit stop … where he worked temporarily in between TV jobs …

—Mark Lorando

b(1)

: a place where a pit stop is or can be made

(2)

: an establishment providing food or drink

Examples of pit stop in a Sentence

We made a pit stop for some food before getting back on the highway.

This little town is an ideal pit stop between the two cities.

Recent Examples on the Web

And, Ralph’s Coffee is also a stylish pre-flight pit stop, with the usual coffee and sweet snack offering as well as packs of take-home roasted beans. —Rachel Morris, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Feb. 2026

Plan your Route 66 road trip The Century of Route 66 map highlights the best pit stops in each of the eight states along the highway, plus nearby Choice Hotels for a seamless travel experience. —Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026

Looks like there will be at least one more green-lap pit stop. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Feb. 2026

Swapping batteries requires a quick change that one broadcast executive likened to an F1 pit stop. —The Sports Desk, NBC news, 14 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pit stop

• atop
• backdrop
• backstop
• bebop
• blacktop
• bookshop
• clatsop
• desktop
• eavesdrop
• estop
• hardtop
• hilltop

Kids Definition

pit stop

noun

1

: a stop at the pits during an automobile race

2

a

: a stop (as during a trip) for fuel, food, or rest or for use of a restroom

b

: a place where a pit stop is or can be made