stops; stopped; stopping
1
a
: to not move, walk, etc., after doing so before
She was walking toward me, and then she suddenly stopped.
The bus stopped at the corner.
He stopped to watch the sun set.
She had to stop to catch her breath. = She had to stop and catch her breath.
He stopped to pick up a penny.
The car was going so fast that it couldn't stop in time.
The traffic light turned red, so she had to stop.
Stop. [=halt] Who goes there?
I stopped (dead) in my tracks [=stopped suddenly] when I saw the bear.
b
: to cause (someone or something) to not move, walk, etc., after doing so before
Stop that man! He stole my wallet.
They stopped us at the border to check our passports.
She stopped the car and turned back.
He was stopped by the police for speeding.
The goalie stopped [=blocked] the ball/shot.
The sight of the bear stopped me (dead) in my tracks.
2
a
: to not do something that you have been doing before : to not continue doing something
He constantly teases her and never knows when to stop.
We've been working all morning. It's time to stop and take a break.
The boss said that he was unhappy with some of his employees, but he stopped short of naming which ones. [=but he did not say which ones]
Did you ever stop [=pause] to think about the risk you took?
She never stopped to consider how her decision might affect others.
Can you please stop what you are doing to help me?
I stop work at 5 o'clock.
The phone stopped ringing.
Stop arguing/talking/running.
She stopped [=quit] smoking last year.
The patient suddenly stopped breathing.
His heart stopped beating.
Stop it/that or I'll tell Mom.
b
: to make (someone or something) no longer do something : to keep (someone or something) from continuing to do something
I'm leaving and you can't stop me.
Stop me if you've heard this joke before.
It's too late. There's no stopping them now. [=they can't be stopped now]
(Brit) I couldn't stop him crying.
—often + from in U.S. EnglishI couldn't stop him from crying.
He stopped [=restrained] himself from laughing out loud.
Nothing can stop me from leaving.
Environmentalists tried to stop them from cutting down the trees.
There is nothing to stop you from going.
We need to stop the disease from spreading.
3
a
: to cause (something) to end : to end (something)
The teacher stopped the fight.
We need to stop the violence in our city.
They tried to stop the bleeding.
b
: to cause (a recording) to not play
She stopped the CD because it was skipping.
We stopped [=paused] the movie to grab some snacks.
4
: to no longer happen or exist : to end
The music suddenly stopped.
The path stops about halfway up the mountain.
The rain had stopped by the time we left. [=it was not raining anymore when we left]
5
: to suddenly not work or function
The engine just stopped.
His heart stopped.
6
a
: to not travel during a journey for a short period of time in order to rest, eat, etc.
—+ for
We stopped for lunch.
We need to stop for gas. [=we need to get gas]
We stopped for a night in Atlanta. [=we stayed in Atlanta for a night]
b
: to go to a place during a journey
I'll stop for a short visit.
The tour stops in several cities.
c
: to make a brief social visit
I'm not stopping. [=staying] I just wanted to drop this off.
7
: to close, block, or fill (a hole)
He stopped his ears with his fingers. [=he put his fingertips in his ears so that he couldn't hear]
—usually + upShe stopped up the cracks with plaster.
The sink is stopped up [=blocked] with food.
8
a
: to tell your bank not to pay a check
I called to stop payment on the check. = I called to stop the check.
b
chiefly British
: to take (money) from something
—often + from
£200 will be stopped [=withheld] from your wages next week.
9
always followed by an adverb or preposition British, informal
: to stay or remain
I am stopping at home.
plural stops
1
: an act of stopping or a state of being stopped: such as
a
: a state in which someone or something is no longer moving
—usually singular
The car skidded/slowed to a stop. [=to a halt]
The ball rolled to a stop.
The train came to a stop.
He slowly brought the car to a stop.
b
: a state in which no further activity happens
—usually singular
Production was brought to a stop [=was stopped] by the strike.
Negotiations brought a stop to [=ended] the conflict.
Work on the project came to a stop [=work on the project stopped] because of a lack of funding.
The fighting came to a sudden stop.
We need to put a stop to [=end] these practices.
She wanted to put a stop to the rumors.
c
sports
: a play that stops an opponent from scoring a goal
The goalie made a great stop. [=save]
2
a
: a place that you visit or go to for a short period of time during a journey
His first stop will be Washington, D.C.
Our first stop has to be the gas station.
b
: a short period of time during which you stop or stay at a place during a journey
The trip includes an overnight stop [=stay] in Paris.
We'll make a stop [=stop, rest] when we get to the top of this hill.
We should make a stop at the museum. [=we should visit the museum]
I need to make a stop at the grocery store on the way home.
3
a
: the place where a bus or train regularly stops on a route to let passengers get on and off
a bus stop
The next stop is Main Street and Tower Square.
I'm getting off at the next stop.
What is your stop?
b
US
: a place on a road (such as an intersection) where traffic must stop
a four-way stop
Slow down as you approach the stop.
a stop sign [=a sign telling drivers to stop and wait until they can continue safely]
4
: an order that tells a bank not to pay a check
—usually singular
I put a stop on the check.
5
6
linguistics
: a sound (such as the "p" of "apt" or the "g" of "tiger") that is made by stopping the flow of air completely and then suddenly letting air out
Cite this Entry
“Stop.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/stop. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy Citation
