Stop
/stɒp/
Definitions
4 meaningsTo cease movement or action; to discontinue.
/stɒp/
To cease movement or activity.
The rain stopped after an hour.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're running, and then suddenly you decide to pause! That's to stop! You might stop playing a game, stop talking, or stop moving.
👶 For kids: To not go anymore! Like when you stop running.
More Examples
I need to stop eating so much sugar.
Can you please stop making that noise?
How It's Used
"The bus stopped at the next corner."
"The driver had to stop at the red light."
To obstruct or prevent the progress or continuation of.
/stɒp/
To obstruct or prevent.
A roadblock stopped our progress.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, things get in the way and prevent something else from happening. Like when a fence stops your dog from running away, or a door stops the wind from coming in.
👶 For kids: To keep something from going through or happening.
More Examples
The police stopped the protestors.
The doctor stopped the bleeding.
How It's Used
"The barrier stopped the car."
"Medication can stop bleeding."
The act of stopping or the condition of being stopped; a halt.
/stɒp/
A cessation of movement or action.
We made a stop at the grocery store.
💡 Simply: A stop is when something that's moving or happening comes to a halt. Like a quick pause or a break.
👶 For kids: When you don't go anymore! Like a pause.
More Examples
The game was delayed due to a stop for injury.
There will be several stops along the route.
How It's Used
"The train made a stop at the station."
"The referee blew the whistle for a stop in play."
A device or object used to block or restrain movement, passage, or action.
/stɒp/
A device or object designed to block or restrain.
She placed a stop on the drain.
💡 Simply: A stopper is something you use to close something off or prevent it from moving. Like a cork in a wine bottle or a plug in a sink.
👶 For kids: Something that blocks something else.
More Examples
The stopper on the wine bottle was difficult to remove.
The child put a stop in their mouth.
How It's Used
"The stopper in the bottle kept the liquid inside."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
to stop at nothing
To be willing to do anything to achieve a goal.
"She will stop at nothing to win the competition."
to put a stop to something
To end or prevent something from happening.
"The government put a stop to the protests."
From Old English *stoppian*, related to Dutch *stoppen* and German *stopfen*, all meaning "to block or plug".
Used since Old English, with consistent meaning related to ceasing motion or blocking passage.