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 virtual safety car was activated at lap 29 — triggering a slew of pit stops where everyone bar Piastri initially pitted (the McLaren driver coming in a lap later). —Luke Smith, New York Times, 18 May 2025

Katy Perry made a pit stop in between shows of her Lifetimes tour to celebrate; Kim Kardashian took a break from testifying in a trial related to the 2016 Paris robbery; Kris Jenner is debuting a new bob. —Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 17 May 2025

Kelly’s opened in December 2022 in the Square at University Town Center, a familiar pit stop for South Florida travelers just off Interstate 75. —Jason Dill, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025

Those pit stops, which will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., will feature free T-shirts, refreshments, cycling maps and other things for cyclists. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2025

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