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

The singer announced her 18-city, North American tour for album The Secret of Us in June, which kicks off Sept. 5 in Portland, Oregon, and makes additional pit stops in Denver, Houston, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, and Boston. —Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2024

Sonoma County’s biggest city — its urban heart — is often just a pit stop for visitors eager to move on and explore Wine Country. —Amber Turpin, The Mercury News, 15 July 2024

The market is also a delicious pit stop to sample flavors near and far. —Tim Ebner, Washington Post, 10 July 2024

The small plane was set to take a quick pit stop in Charleston to refuel before landing in Atlanta, the group's final destination. —Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 2 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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