1
: one that brings to a halt or causes to stop operating or functioning : check: such as
a
: a playing card that will stop the running of a suit
b
: a baseball pitcher depended on to win important games or to stop a losing streak
also
: an effective relief pitcher
2
: one that closes, shuts, or fills up
specifically
: something (such as a bung or cork) used to plug an opening
stoppered; stoppering
ˈstä-p(ə-)riŋ 
: to close or secure with or as if with a stopper
stopper the bottle
Examples of stopper in a Sentence
Noun
His comment was a conversation stopper.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Bsn, Parents, 10 Jan. 2024
After a too-brief stay at Vermelho, my luggage-friendly Rover SV is spearing past the vineyards of the scrappy Alentejo wine region, and blurring the bark-regenerating cork oaks that provide stoppers for the world’s wine industry.
—Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2024
Choose from a range of tones, including Charcoal Matte and Evergreen Shimmer.
Find it on Amazon
The Door Stopper That Works All Year Round
This door draft stopper is easy to install and helps save energy.
—Kat Romero, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2024
Similarly, to keep cold air from flowing beneath doorways, door draft stoppers can be purchased or made at home out of a blanket or towel.
—Detroit Free Press, 21 Jan. 2024
Nickey Kehoe David Bowie wine stopper Edie Parker Burn Bag: For that friend who’s always looking for a light.
—Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2023
My family has even added extra flairs to the viral cups, including spill stoppers, personalized name plates, and even a snack cup that sits on the lid.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Bsn, Parents, 10 Jan. 2024
Your major-suit stoppers are too weak to insist on 3NT.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024
Similarly, to keep cold air from flowing beneath doorways, door draft stoppers or made at home out of a blanket or towel.
—Detroit Free Press, 21 Jan. 2024
Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2019
Karius remains under fire following his high profile errors in the Champions League final in May, while Liverpool have met difficulty in the transfer market after being heavily linked with very expensive Roma and Brazil stopper Alisson.
—SI.com, 13 July 2018
Alexandre Lacazette and substitute Danny Welbeck both had one-on-one chances to score but both were thwarted by Terriers stopper Jonas Lossl.
—SI.com, 13 May 2018
Facebook Advertising Works On April 3, game wardens received an Operation Game Thief crime stoppers call alleging an individual was trying to sell an alligator on Facebook.
—Community Report Community Report, Houston Chronicle, 1 May 2018
The reviews from the keepers were far from glowing, with Napoli's Reina and Manchester United's De Gea teaming up with Die Mannschaft and Barcelona stopper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to criticize the new Adidas product.
—SI.com, 24 Mar. 2018
Having dictated play with their pressure off the ball in an organized approach, a costly mix-up between Terriers stopper Jonas Lossl and winger Lolley gifted the Hammers the lead in the 25th minute.
—SI.com, 13 Jan. 2018
Goalkeeper As far as goalkeepers were concerned, there was one clear winner for supporters as nearly half chose Manchester United and Spain stopper David de Gea.
—SI.com, 17 Oct. 2017
Fellow Magpies stoppers Karl Darlow and Tim Krul, on the other hand, are expected to be allowed to leave - but only for the right price, with the club having already rejected a £5m bid from Middlesbrough for Darlow.
—SI.com, 27 July 2017
Noun
This 10-pack even includes two rubber boots and some straw stoppers for extra protection—all for less than $10.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Bsn, Parents, 10 Jan. 2024
After a too-brief stay at Vermelho, my luggage-friendly Rover SV is spearing past the vineyards of the scrappy Alentejo wine region, and blurring the bark-regenerating cork oaks that provide stoppers for the world’s wine industry.
—Lawrence Ulrich, Robb Report, 20 Feb. 2024
Choose from a range of tones, including Charcoal Matte and Evergreen Shimmer.
Find it on Amazon
The Door Stopper That Works All Year Round
This door draft stopper is easy to install and helps save energy.
—Kat Romero, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2024
Similarly, to keep cold air from flowing beneath doorways, door draft stoppers can be purchased or made at home out of a blanket or towel.
—Detroit Free Press, 21 Jan. 2024
Nickey Kehoe David Bowie wine stopper Edie Parker Burn Bag: For that friend who’s always looking for a light.
—Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2023
My family has even added extra flairs to the viral cups, including spill stoppers, personalized name plates, and even a snack cup that sits on the lid.
—Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Bsn, Parents, 10 Jan. 2024
Your major-suit stoppers are too weak to insist on 3NT.
—Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2024
Similarly, to keep cold air from flowing beneath doorways, door draft stoppers or made at home out of a blanket or towel.
—Detroit Free Press, 21 Jan. 2024
Verb
Like O’Rourke, this debate will be one of his best chances to stopper any more losses.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2019
Karius remains under fire following his high profile errors in the Champions League final in May, while Liverpool have met difficulty in the transfer market after being heavily linked with very expensive Roma and Brazil stopper Alisson.
—SI.com, 13 July 2018
Alexandre Lacazette and substitute Danny Welbeck both had one-on-one chances to score but both were thwarted by Terriers stopper Jonas Lossl.
—SI.com, 13 May 2018
Facebook Advertising Works On April 3, game wardens received an Operation Game Thief crime stoppers call alleging an individual was trying to sell an alligator on Facebook.
—Community Report Community Report, Houston Chronicle, 1 May 2018
The reviews from the keepers were far from glowing, with Napoli's Reina and Manchester United's De Gea teaming up with Die Mannschaft and Barcelona stopper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to criticize the new Adidas product.
—SI.com, 24 Mar. 2018
Having dictated play with their pressure off the ball in an organized approach, a costly mix-up between Terriers stopper Jonas Lossl and winger Lolley gifted the Hammers the lead in the 25th minute.
—SI.com, 13 Jan. 2018
Goalkeeper As far as goalkeepers were concerned, there was one clear winner for supporters as nearly half chose Manchester United and Spain stopper David de Gea.
—SI.com, 17 Oct. 2017
Fellow Magpies stoppers Karl Darlow and Tim Krul, on the other hand, are expected to be allowed to leave - but only for the right price, with the club having already rejected a £5m bid from Middlesbrough for Darlow.
—SI.com, 27 July 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stopper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near stopper
Cite this Entry
“Stopper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stopper. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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