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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | stoppian 'to block up' |
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stop1 S1 W1
past tense and past participle stopped, present participle stopping
past tense and past participle stopped, present participle stopping1
He stopped suddenly when he saw Ruth.Stop, come back! He stopped the car and got out. I was worried that the security guards would stop us at the gate.
not move
[intransitive and transitive] to not walk, move, or travel any more, or to make someone or something do this
He stopped suddenly when he saw Ruth.Stop, come back!He stopped the car and got out.I was worried that the security guards would stop us at the gate. stop on a dime American English (=stop very quickly - used about cars) This truck can stop on a dime!
This truck can stop on a dime!2
not continue
a) [intransitive and transitive] to not continue, or to make someone or something not continue : By midday the rain had stopped. This is where the path stops. The referee stopped the fight. The doctor advised me to stop the medication. People are fighting to stop the destruction of the rainforests.
By midday the rain had stopped.This is where the path stops.The referee stopped the fight.The doctor advised me to stop the medication.People are fighting to stop the destruction of the rainforests.b) [intransitive and transitive] if you stop doing something, you do not continue to do it What time do you stop work? I've been smoking for over ten years, and I can't stop.
What time do you stop work?I've been smoking for over ten years, and I can't stop.3 to pause in an activity, journey etc in order to do something before you continue
pause
[intransitive] stop for We stopped for a drink on the way home.
We stopped for a drink on the way home. stop to do something I stopped to tie my shoe.
I stopped to tie my shoe.4 to prevent someone from doing something or something from happening : The government tried to stop publication of the book. I'm leaving now, and you can't stop me.
prevent
[transitive]The government tried to stop publication of the book.I'm leaving now, and you can't stop me. stop somebody/something (from) doing something Lay the carpet on paper to stop it sticking to the floor. The rain didn't stop us from enjoying the trip.
Lay the carpet on paper to stop it sticking to the floor.The rain didn't stop us from enjoying the trip. stop yourself (from) doing something I couldn't stop myself laughing. She grabbed the rail to stop herself from falling.
I couldn't stop myself laughing.She grabbed the rail to stop herself from falling. there's nothing to stop somebody (from) doing something There's nothing to stop you applying for the job yourself.
There's nothing to stop you applying for the job yourself.5 to stay somewhere for a short time, especially at someone's house : I won't sit down - I'm not stopping.
stay
[intransitive] British English informalI won't sit down - I'm not stopping. stop for Will you stop for a cup of tea?
Will you stop for a cup of tea?6 to be ready to do anything to achieve something that you want to achieve : We will stop at nothing to save our child.
will/would stop at nothing (to do something)
We will stop at nothing to save our child.7 to decide that you are not willing to do something wrong or dangerous, though you will do something similar that is less dangerous : The US government supported sanctions but stopped short of military action.
stop short of (doing) something
The US government supported sanctions but stopped short of military action.8 if you stop an amount of money, you prevent it from being paid to someone : Dad threatened to stop my pocket money.
money
[transitive]Dad threatened to stop my pocket money. stop something from something £200 will be stopped from your wages next month to pay for the damage.
£200 will be stopped from your wages next month to pay for the damage.9 to block a hole or pipe so that water, smoke etc cannot go through it
block
also stop up [transitive]stop back
phrasal verbCan you stop back later? I'm busy right now.stop by (something)
phrasal verbI'll stop by this evening.Daniel stopped by the store on his way home.stop in
phrasal verb1 to make a short visit to a place or person, especially while you are going somewhere else : I'll stop in and see you on my way home.
I'll stop in and see you on my way home.2 British English to stay at home : I'm stopping in to wash my hair tonight.
I'm stopping in to wash my hair tonight.stop off
phrasal verbWe can stop off and see you on our way back.stop out
phrasal verb informal to stay out later than usual : It was a real treat being allowed to stop out late.
It was a real treat being allowed to stop out late.stop over
phrasal verbThe plane stops over in Dubai on the way to India.stop up
phrasal verb2 British English informal to stay up late : Joe stopped up till 3 o'clock to watch the boxing.
Joe stopped up till 3 o'clock to watch the boxing.GRAMMAR GRAMMAR
To stop doing something means to not continue an activity • It has stopped raining (NOT stopped from raining). • He couldn't stop talking about it (NOT stop from talking/stop to talk). To stop to do something means to stand still, or stop what you are doing, in order to do something • He stopped to pick up a piece of paper. To stop someone from doing something means to prevent someone from doing something • You can't stop me from going (NOT stop me to go). In British English you can leave out 'from' • This will help stop people dying of AIDS.
GRAMMAR To stop doing something means to not continue an activity • It has stopped raining (NOT stopped from raining). • He couldn't stop talking about it (NOT stop from talking/stop to talk). To stop to do something means to stand still, or stop what you are doing, in order to do something • He stopped to pick up a piece of paper. To stop someone from doing something means to prevent someone from doing something • You can't stop me from going (NOT stop me to go). In British English you can leave out 'from' • This will help stop people dying of AIDS.
