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to stop

to stop

1.0
To make something end and not continue
  • verb
  • /stɑp/
translation icon : detener
  • The northern army, which had been given orders to stop the rebels, refused to intervene.
  • stop talking
  • stop smoking
  • stop trying

It's the only way to stop the virus.

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Examples

  • I really want you to stop and visualize it.

  • It's the only way to stop the virus.

  • We took action last night to stop a war.

  • Could you please stop looking at your phone?

  • When you stop dreaming, you stop thinking big.

  • I don't want to let that stop my dreams.

  • You've got to stop him.

  • If you don't stop now, so help me God I'll press charges!

  • "President Obama stated in Cairo that Israel must stop all construction activities in the settlements.

    Academic text (2011)
  • We must take measures to stop the spread of misinformation online.

Synonyms

to end
vsto stop
1.0

To stop something or make it finish

also means to cause something to cease or block progress
to give up
vsto stop
1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

is the general action that includes forcing an end as well as voluntary quitting
to prevent
vsto stop
2.3

Stop something from happening or someone from doing it

also applies to ending actions already in progress as well as blocking
to block
vsto stop
3.0

To stop movement, access, or progress

is the general verb that can also mean ending rather than mere obstruction
to interrupt
vsto stop
909 2.5

To stop someone speaking or an activity

is the general action which also includes complete endings not only pauses
to kill
vsto stop
682 2.8

Stop something from working or continuing

is the wider neutral verb used for many endings without violent connotations
to quit
vsto stop
668 1.0

To stop doing a habit or activity like smoking

is the general verb that can also mean causing others to end actions
to turn off
vsto stop
631 1.3

To stop a machine or device from working with a switch

is the general verb used for many contexts beyond switching devices
to cut off
vsto stop
620 3.8

To stop something suddenly before it is finished

is the general action that also includes gradual or planned endings
to stay
vsto stop
  • Formal
518 5.3

To officially stop an action or process for a time

is the broader verb used generally without necessarily implying legal authority
to cease
vsto stop
324 3.6

To stop or come to an end

also covers preventing or blocking things before they happen
to halt
vsto stop
206 2.4

To stop moving or make something stop moving

is the everyday verb that also includes preventing things before movement starts
to hold back
vsto stop
187 3.2

Stop someone or something from moving forward

is the general verb covering both blocking and complete endings
to suppress
vsto stop
176 4.8

To stop public protest by force or by people in power

is the general verb that can be non-forceful neutral or informal
to intercept
vsto stop
171 5.3

To stop someone or something before they reach a place

is the general verb which also includes preventing events before they begin
to terminate
vsto stop
147 4.6

To make something stop or finish

is the general verb used in many contexts and not only formal endings
to suspend
vsto stop
141 3.9

To stop something officially for a short time

is the general action that may be permanent or informal and not only official pauses
to put an end to
vsto stop
131 3.0

To make something stop completely

is the shorter general action covering both ending and preventing
to leave off
vsto stop
  • Informal
104 4.1

Stop doing something for a short time, for example at a point in a book

is the general verb that also covers permanent or enforced endings
to check
vsto stop
104 3.7

Stop something from growing or spreading

is the broader verb that also includes fully ending or preventing not only limiting
to lay off
vsto stop
  • Informal
102 3.4

Stop doing something that annoys someone

is the broader verb which may be formal physical or abstract in application
to abort
vsto stop
93 5.6

To stop a plan or activity before it finishes, often because of problems

is the wider verb that also covers planned gradual or preventive endings
to pull the plug
vsto stop
87 5.5

To stop something from going on by removing support like money

is the general verb that can mean ending in many different ways
to shut off
vsto stop
83 2.6

Stop something from working by using a switch or valve

is the general verb that also includes non-mechanical endings or prevention
to put a stop to
vsto stop
62 3.0

To end something so it no longer happens

is the simple verb used for ending or preventing in everyday speech
to discontinue
vsto stop
58 4.2

To stop something that is happening or being given

is the broader action which can include forced or voluntary endings
to break off
vsto stop
50 3.2

To stop something suddenly before it is finished, for example a talk or relationship

is more general and covers intentional or slower cessations too
to barricade
vsto stop
42 4.8

To stop people from entering a place by putting up a barrier

is the general verb covering non-physical endings as well as physical ones
to arrest
vsto stop
33 3.9

To stop or slow the progress of something

is the common verb used broadly without implying force or formality
to block off
vsto stop
23 3.8

Close a road, path or entrance so people cannot go through

is the broader verb used for abstract and physical endings and not only area closures
to turn back
vsto stop
17 2.0

To stop someone from going forward or entering

is the general verb also used for ending actions rather than only reversing direction
to come to a halt
vsto stop
  • Informal
13 3.4

Stop moving or working completely

is the general action that also prevents things before movement begins
to stop dead
vsto stop
  • Informal
12 3.9

To suddenly become completely still because you are surprised

is the broader verb covering planned gradual or caused endings
to break up
vsto stop
11 3.3

Interrupt an activity so it stops for a short time

is the broader verb that may also mean complete ending rather than a pause
11 4.3

To slow down an activity or stop it

is the general verb that also allows complete or permanent endings
to blockade
vsto stop
9 6.0

To stop people and goods entering or leaving a place, often during war

is the broader verb also used for halting processes or actions not only places
to bar
vsto stop
7 2.8

To block a path or entrance by placing something across it

is the general verb that applies to many methods beyond physical fastening
to choke off
vsto stop
6 6.4

To stop a supply by blocking its source or flow

is the broader verb that covers many methods beyond blocking flows
to block up
vsto stop
4 3.8

To stop movement through a road, pipe, or path

is the general verb that also includes halting non-physical processes
3 3.9

To suddenly stop moving or speaking because you are surprised

is the general action also used for objects and planned endings
to stop up
vsto stop
1 4.6

Block a hole, pipe, or crack so nothing can pass through

is the broad verb that also covers ending actions or preventing them
to put a full stop
vsto stop
  • UK
1 3.6

End something completely so it does not continue

is the common verb that also covers partial or temporary halts
to kibosh
vsto stop
  • Informal
1 9.9

To stop something from happening or continuing

is the common verb without the informal playful tone of this phrase

Antonyms

1.0

To begin an action, event or process

1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

763 3.0

Begin or continue an action after a pause, often as planned

Idioms

50 5.1

Make blood loss end or prevent more harm in a difficult situation

To suddenly stop moving or speaking because you are surprised

To take time to enjoy small pleasant things in life

to stop the presses
  • Literature
3 7.9

Tell people to stop printing because of urgent news

A face so ugly that it shocks people

A sudden end that causes death or total ruin

to stop a clock
  • Informal
8.8

To be so attractive that people stare

9.9

Tell someone to stop talking nonsense and focus on the main point

9.9

Tell someone to stop saying silly or untrue things and to speak seriously

Phrasal Verbs

to stop by
  • Informal
494 2.5

To make a short visit to a person or place

To end something so it no longer happens

To stop making sounds and movements when you find something funny

to stop dead
  • Informal
12 3.9

To suddenly become completely still because you are surprised

To stop briefly on a journey to use the toilet or get food

8 3.6

To stay somewhere for a short time, often overnight, before continuing a trip

to stop cold
  • Informal
3 5.2

Freeze and stay completely still because of surprise or fear

1 4.6

Block a hole, pipe, or crack so nothing can pass through

Get ready to stop when a signal or sign warns you

End something completely so it does not continue

Compounds

73 1.0

A place where people wait for a bus to get on and off

45 1.0

A road sign that tells drivers to stop completely before going

34 2.7

A place by the road where truck drivers stop for fuel, food, and rest

24 1.8

A place beside a road where people stop to rest, use toilets, or buy food

21 3.9

A quick stop during a race to refuel or change tires

14 3.6

A short stop on a trip to rest, stretch, or get fuel

stop payment
  • Specialized
4 4.8

A request from a bank customer asking the bank not to cash a check

2 3.6

A complete end to an activity or process

A series of short visits to small towns by a politician during an election campaign

2 8.2

A short stop at a small place, for example a train stop or a campaign visit

1 1.0

A mark placed at the end of a sentence or after an abbreviation

glottal stop
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A sound you make by briefly stopping and releasing air at your voice box, like the break in 'uh-oh'

stop order
  • Specialized
1 5.8

An instruction to sell or buy shares at a set price to limit losses and protect gains

stop bath
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A weak acid liquid used to stop the chemical that makes an image on film or photo paper

stop-loss order
  • Specialized
1 5.8

An instruction to automatically sell shares when their price falls to a set level to limit loss

1 7.4

A very small train station where trains pause only when someone signals

To slow but not stop fully at a stop sign or red light

diapason stop
  • Specialized
9.9

A main sound on a pipe organ that gives a deep, rich tone

flue stop
  • Specialized
9.3

A part of an organ that makes a soft sound like a flute

8.1

A small train station where trains stop only if someone signals them

labial stop
  • Specialized
8.6

A speech sound made by closing the lips to block the air briefly

A short stay during a trip where you sleep overnight before continuing

reed stop
  • Specialized
9.4

A part of an organ that makes a sound like an oboe or clarinet

organ stop
  • Jargon
7.9

A group of pipes on an organ that make a particular sound when you choose them

suction stop
  • Specialized
9.9

A consonant made by pulling air into the mouth to stop the sound briefly

short-stop bath
  • Specialized
9.6

An acidic liquid that stops film or paper from developing before fixing

short-stop
  • Specialized
9.9

A liquid used after developing film to stop the chemical reaction

4.9

A liquid added to a car radiator to seal small holes for a short time

stop number
  • Specialized
8.4

A number that shows how wide a camera lens opens to let light in

stop consonant
  • Specialized
6.3

A sound you make when you block air and then let it out quickly

stop press
  • Literature
7.1

An urgent news item added to a newspaper just before printing

stop-limit order
  • Specialized
8.4

An instruction that starts when a set price is reached and then trades only at a set price or better

stop-leak
  • Specialized
6.5

A liquid you add to a car radiator to seal small leaks temporarily

How Complete

to terminate
147 4.6
to end
1.0
to stop
1.0
to halt
206 2.4
to pause
346 1.0
to slow down
687 1.4

Surface Forms

stop infinitive
stopped past
stopped past participle
stopping present participle
stops third person singular

Etymology

Stop comes from an old English word stoppian meaning 'to plug' or 'block'. So to stop something is like putting in a plug to make it end or not continue.