stop

noun countable

UK /stɒp/

Word Forms

singular	stop
plural	stops

1
a place where you stop on a journey
The president’s first stop on his tour will be Honolulu.
If you require an overnight stop near the airport, this is an ideal hotel.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of a journey
change
departure
the home straight
1. 1a
  a period when you stop on a journey
  After a brief stop for coffee, we were on our way.
  Synonyms and related words
  Parts of a journey
  change
  departure
  the home straight
2. 1b
  a place where a bus or train stops for passengers to get on or off
  I’m getting off at the next stop.
  Synonyms and related words
  Railway, boat and bus stations and stops
  bus shelter
  bus station
  depot
2
one of the parts on an organ that you push or pull in order to control the level of sound
Synonyms and related words
Parts of musical instruments
bellows
bow
bridge

phrases

come to a stop

come/jerk/skid etc to a stop

stop

noun countable

US /stɑp/

Word Forms

singular	stop
plural	stops

1
a place where you stop on a trip
The president’s first stop on his tour will be Honolulu.
If you need an overnight stop near Santa Fe, this is an ideal place.
make a stop:
The bus will make an additional stop in Fargo.
Synonyms and related words
Parts of a journey
change
departure
drop-off
1. 1a
  a period when you stop on a trip
  After a brief stop for coffee, we were on our way.
  Synonyms and related words
  Parts of a journey
  change
  departure
  drop-off
2. 1b
  a place where a bus or train stops for passengers to get on or off
  I’m getting off at the next stop.
  Synonyms and related words
  Railway, boat and bus stations and stops
  bus shelter
  bus station
  depot
2
one of the parts on an organ that you push or pull in order to control the level of sound
Synonyms and related words
Parts of musical instruments
bellows
bow
bridge
3
linguisticsa consonant sound produced by stopping and then starting the flow of air through your mouth
Synonyms and related words
Terms in phonetics
affricate
alveolar
articulator

phrases

come to a stop

come/jerk/skid etc. to a stop

stop

verb

UK /stɒp/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	stop
he/she/it	stops
present participle	stopping
past tense	stopped
past participle	stopped

1
transitive to prevent someone from doing something, or to prevent something from happening
Policies like this aren’t going to stop crime.
stop someone (from) doing something:
A broken leg won’t stop me from going to the concert.
there’s nothing to stop you:
There’s nothing to stop you from asking him. He might agree.
Synonyms and related words
To prevent something from happening
prevent
stop
avoid
Synonyms and related words
To stop someone doing something
stop
prevent
check
1. 1a
  to prevent a payment from being made
  Did you stop the cheque?
  Synonyms and related words
  To prevent something from happening
  prevent
  stop
  avoid
2
intransitive/transitive to no longer do something
We stopped work and went for a drink.
stop doing something:
I want to stop smoking.
Suddenly everyone stopped talking.
Synonyms and related words
To stop doing something
stop
break off
give up
1. 2a
  intransitive if something stops, it does not continue
  When the rain stops, I’m going out.
  Synonyms and related words
  To disappear, or to stop existing or happening
  X has left the building
  disappear
  finish
3
intransitive to no longer move
The car stopped at the traffic lights.
Lots of people stopped and stared at the accident.
Synonyms and related words
To stop moving
stop
halt
freeze
1. 3a
  transitive to ask someone to stop walking or driving so that you can talk to them
  I stopped a woman and asked her for directions.
  He was stopped for speeding.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a request
  call away
  call on
  send for
2. 3b
  intransitive if a bus or train stops somewhere, it stops moving in order to let passengers on or off
  stop at:
  Does the train stop at Nice?
  Synonyms and related words
  Booking on and travelling by transport
  aboard
  afloat
  aisle seat
3. 3c
  intransitive to pause while you are moving or doing something so that you can do something else
  He stopped and listened before opening the door.
  Did you ever stop to think what might happen?
  stop to do something:
  I stopped to get a drink of water.
  stop for:
  I stopped at the shop for some cheese.
  Synonyms and related words
  To stop doing something
  stop
  break off
  give up
4
intransitive/transitive to no longer work, or to cause something to no longer work
My watch has stopped.
Can you stop the engine?
Synonyms and related words
To make a machine or piece of machinery stop working
break
brick
cannibalise
Synonyms and related words
To stop working (of a piece of equipment)
break down
go off
shut off
5
intransitive/transitive Britishspokento stay at someone’s house for a short time
Have you got time to stop for a cup of coffee?
stop the night:
I stopped the night with Tom.
Synonyms and related words
To live, stay or work in a particular place
live
arrive
settle down
6

stop
or
stop up
transitive to block something such as a pipe or hole so that water or another substance cannot go through it
Synonyms and related words
Plumbing and drainage systems
airlock
back up
blockage

phrases

stop at nothing

stop dead/short

stop something in its tracks

stop it/that

stop short

stop short of (doing) something

stop (you) in your tracks

there’s no stopping someone

what’s stopping you (from doing something)?

phrasal verbs

stop away

stop by

stop in

stop off

stop on

stop out

stop over

stop up

stop

verb

US /stɑp/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	stop
he/she/it	stops
present participle	stopping
past tense	stopped
past participle	stopped

1
transitive to prevent someone from doing something, or to prevent something from happening
Policies like this aren’t going to stop crime.
stop someone (from) doing something:
A broken leg won’t stop me from going to the concert.
there’s nothing to stop you:
There’s nothing to stop you from asking him. He might agree.
Synonyms and related words
To prevent something from happening
prevent
stop
avert
Synonyms and related words
To stop someone doing something
stop
prevent
keep from
1. 1a
  to prevent a payment from being made
  When they saw his work, they stopped payment on their check.
  Synonyms and related words
  To prevent something from happening
  prevent
  stop
  avert
2
intransitive/transitive to no longer do something
We stopped work when we heard the alarm.
stop doing something:
I want to stop smoking.
Suddenly everyone stopped talking.
Synonyms and related words
To stop doing something
stop
break off
give up
1. 2a
  intransitive if something stops, it does not continue
  When the rain stops, I’m going out.
  Synonyms and related words
  To disappear, or to stop existing or happening
  X has left the building
  disappear
  finish
3
intransitive to no longer move
The car stopped at the traffic lights.
Lots of people stopped and stared at the accident.
Synonyms and related words
To stop moving
stop
halt
freeze
1. 3a
  transitive to ask someone to stop walking or driving so that you can talk to them
  I stopped a woman and asked her for directions.
  He was stopped for speeding.
  Synonyms and related words
  To make a request
  ask for
  invite
  request
2. 3b
  intransitive if a bus or train stops somewhere, it stops moving in order to let passengers on or off
  stop at:
  Does the train stop at terminal three?
  Synonyms and related words
  Booking on and traveling by transport
  aboard
  afloat
  aisle seat
3. 3c
  intransitive to pause while you are moving or doing something so that you can do something else
  He stopped and listened before opening the door.
  Did you ever stop to think what might happen?
  stop to do something:
  I stopped to get a drink of water.
  stop for:
  I stopped at the store for some cheese.
  Synonyms and related words
  To stop doing something
  stop
  break off
  give up
4
intransitive/transitive to no longer work, or to cause something to no longer work
My watch has stopped.
Can you stop the engine?
Synonyms and related words
To make a machine or piece of machinery stop working
break
brick
cannibalize
Synonyms and related words
To stop working (of a piece of equipment)
break down
go off
shut off
5
intransitive/transitive Britishspokento stay at someone’s house for a short time
Synonyms and related words
To live, stay or work in a particular place
live
arrive
settle down
6

stop
or
stop up
transitive to block something such as a pipe or hole so that water or another substance cannot go through it
Synonyms and related words
Plumbing and drainage systems
airlock
back up
blockage

phrases

stop at nothing

stop dead/short

stop something in its tracks

stop it!

stop it/that

stop the press

stop short

stop short of (doing) something

stop (you) in your tracks

there’s no stopping someone

what’s stopping you (from doing something)?

phrasal verbs

stop away

stop back

stop by

stop in

stop off

stop on

stop over

stop up

stop ​‌‌

stop ​‌‌

stop ​‌‌‌

stop

stop up

stop ​‌‌‌

stop

stop up

stop

stop

stop

stop