halt

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈhȯlt 

halted; halting; halts

intransitive verb

1

: to cease marching or journeying

2

: discontinue, terminate

the project halted for lack of funds

transitive verb

1

: to bring to a stop

the strike halted subways and buses

2

: to cause the discontinuance of : end

halt hostilities

halt

2 of 4

noun

: stop

The car came to a halt.

brought production to a halt

halt

3 of 4

verb (2)

halted; halting; halts

intransitive verb

1

: to walk or proceed with a limp

… that dogs bark at me as I halt by them.

—William Shakespeare

2

: to be in a state of uncertainty or doubt between alternate courses or choices : waver

3

: to display weakness or imperfection : falter

The argument often halts and sometimes breaks down completely.

halt

4 of 4

adjective

archaic

: having a manner of walking that is impaired by a limp

… there is a place for everyone … old and young, hale and halt …

—Sir Winston Churchill

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• arrest
• bring up
• catch
• check
• draw up
• fetch up
• hold up
• pull up
• stall
• stay
• still
• stop

Noun

• deadlock
• gridlock
• impasse
• logjam
• Mexican standoff
• stalemate
• standoff
• standstill

Verb (2)

• hobble
• limp

Examples of halt in a Sentence

Verb (1)

traffic was halted by the parade

the private eye abruptly halted his surveillance of the building upon being spotted by his subject

all filming halted when the star of the movie quit in a huff

Noun

They put a halt to the rumors.

The car skidded to a halt.

Verb (2)

even with her twisted ankle, she managed to halt along and complete her Walk for Peace

she was often confused, halting between the responsibilities of her job and the demands of her home life

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

An Alabama Supreme Court decision earlier this year that deemed that embryos are children under state law and prompted providers to halt fertility treatments in the state brought IVF to the national attention. —Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 24 May 2024

One moment a cow seemed perfectly fine, and then four hours later, rumination had halted. —Amy Maxmen | Kff Health News, ABC News, 24 May 2024

Noun

Conversations about redeveloping the park began in 2019, and then, as with many things, the COVID-19 pandemic brought plans to a halt. —Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 23 May 2024

That program – which provided millions of free shots to low-income people – is now coming to a halt, U.S. health officials said. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 22 May 2024

Verb

The plaintiffs sought an injunction — which the judge granted, in part — to halt the use of mifepristone nationwide while the case plays out. —Chloe Atkins, NBC News, 8 Apr. 2023

In 2019, the F.D.A. tried unsuccessfully to get Aid Access to halt overseas shipping. —Pam Belluck, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2023

Adjective

The coronavirus crisis dealt another serious blow to Blackpool, leaving businesses struggling as tourism ground to a halt ‌during nationwide lockdowns. —Megan Specia, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2022

This is when the fairytale comes crashing to a halt smack-dab in the middle of the Footprint Center. —Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 6 Dec. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb (1)

German, from Middle High German, from halt, imperative of halten to hold, from Old High German haltan — more at hold

Adjective and Verb (2)

Middle English, from Old English healt; akin to Old High German halz lame

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1656, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1598, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing halt

• a crashing halt
• bring a halt to
• call a halt to
• come to a grinding halt
• come to a halt
• draw to a halt/stop
• grind to a halt
• screeching/crashing halt
• screech to a halt/stop

Kids Definition

halt

1 of 4 adjective

ˈhȯlt 

archaic

: unable or only partially able to use a body part and especially an arm or a leg

halt

2 of 4 verb

1

: limp entry 1 sense 1

2

: to move unsteadily

halt

3 of 4 noun

: the ending of movement, progress, or action

call a halt

halt

4 of 4 verb

1

: to stop marching or journeying

2

: to bring to a stop : end

Etymology

Adjective

Old English healt "lame"

Noun

from German halt "stop," derived from earlier halten "to hold"