26984 words

stops

31 definitions • 59 examples
1
to finish doing something that you were doing:

Examples:

Once I start eating chocolate, I can't stop.
[ + -ing verb ] Stop shouting - you're giving me a headache!
I couldn't stop laughing.
Stop it!/Stop that!
2
to stop doing, using, or having something, especially something annoying or not wanted:

Examples:

Stop with the childish games - this is serious!
I'm not going there again until they stop with the ridiculous prices.
3
to not continue to operate:

Examples:

My watch must have stopped.
The air conditioner has stopped working.
4
to not move any more or to make someone or something not move any more:

Examples:

Stop the car, I want to get out!
I heard him shout, "Stop, or I'll shoot!"
5
to finish doing something that you do regularly or as a habit:

Examples:

I stopped seeing him last year.
6
to pause for a short time while travelling or during an activity:

Examples:

stop at Does this train stop at Finsbury Park?
Why don't you just stop somewhere and ask for directions?
[ + to infinitive ] I stopped to pick up a letter that I'd dropped.
7
to prevent someone from doing something:

Examples:

If she really wants to leave, I don't understand what's stopping her.
[ + -ing verb ] They've put barriers up to stop people (from) getting through.
Something must be done to stop the fighting.
8
to tell your bank not to deal with a cheque that you have written, so that the money is not paid from your bank account:

Examples:

They sent me an email confirming that they had stopped the cheque.
9
to stay in a place:

Examples:

Are you coming with me or are you stopping here?
I can't stop - Marc is waiting for me outside.
Now that you're here, why don't you stop for some tea?
stop in I've been out every night this week, so I thought I'd stop in (= stay at home) tonight.
stop up We stopped up (= did not go to bed) until two o'clock last night watching the late film.
10
to block a hole:

Examples:

stop something (up) We stopped (up) the gap with some rags.
11
to beat an opponent in a boxing match because the referee decides that your opponent cannot continue because they are injured or have been knocked down too many times:

Examples:

He retained his WBA title after stopping the American in the ninth round.
12
If you stop a string on a musical instrument, you put your finger on it to change the sound:

Examples:

A violin has no frets to stop the strings.
Bowing or plucking an open string gives a different sound from a stopped string.
13
the act of stopping an activity or journey, or a period of time when you stop:

Examples:

come to a stop Please remain in your seat until the plane comes to a complete stop.
We'd have been here sooner, but we made several stops along the way.
stop and starts At the beginning of the project there were a lot of stops and starts.
14
a place where vehicles, especially buses, stop in order to allow passengers to get off and on:

Examples:

bus stop They waited at the bus stop, shivering with cold.
I'm getting off at the next stop.
Is this our stop (= where we must get off)?
15

Examples:

He used to smoke in bed when I first got to know him, but I soon put a stop to that!
16
short form of
17
a
18
on an organ (= a large musical instrument with a keyboard and pipes), one of the small, round objects on the side of the instrument that you push or pull to control the sound that comes out:

Examples:

He drew on the full resources of the organ's keyboards, stops, and pedals.
There's a very low stop on the organ called a 32-foot sub bass.
19
to finish doing something or end, or to cause someone or something to finish:

Examples:

[ I ] When do you think the snow will stop?
[ T ] When will it stop snowing?
[ T ] Please stop pushing.
[ T ] Fortunately, police stopped the fight before anyone got hurt.
20
to prevent someone from doing something:

Examples:

Lifeguards stopped them from going into the water because sharks had been spotted in the area.
21
to pause or stay in a place, or cause someone to pause:

Examples:

[ I ] We stopped for gas and had something to eat.
[ + to infinitive ] We’d better stop at the next rest area to let the kids go to the bathroom.
[ T ] Naomi was stopped at the gate and asked to show identification.
22
a short period of time when you stay at a place, or the place where you stay:

Examples:

It was a five-hour drive including a 30-minute stop for lunch.
23
A stop is a place where a bus or train pauses to allow passengers to get off and on:

Examples:

I’m getting off at the next stop.
24
the act of stopping an activity, or the state in which someone or something is not moving or active anymore:

Examples:

Please wait until the plane comes to a complete stop before leaving your seat.
25
to prevent something from happening or continuing, or to not continue to happen:

Examples:

Are these new environmental laws enough to stop climate change?
The government demanded that the payments stop.
stop sb (from) doing sth To stop borrowers switching to another lender once the discount period is over, banks apply a hefty charge.
26
to finish doing something:

Examples:

The company's flexible pension plan allows women to suspend contributions if they stop work to have a family.
stop doing sth The economic climate pressured banks to stop lending to each other.
27
if something such as a machine or system stops, it no longer works and needs to be repaired:

Examples:

I didn't realize the time because my watch has stopped.
My TV came with a free radio which has stopped working.
28
to tell your bank not to pay the money relating to a cheque you have written to someone
29
an instruction to a bank or other financial organization to not pay any money from your account when a cheque, card, etc. is used:

Examples:

Banks do not normally charge for putting a stop on lost cheques.
30
to stop happening:

Examples:

At one point mail deliveries just came to a stop.
31
to stop something bad from happening or continuing:

Examples:

EU regulation has put a stop to huge roaming charges when you use your mobile phone abroad.

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