stop 1 of 2

Definition of stopnext
1
2
3
4
5

stop

2 of 2

noun

1
as in break
a brief halt in a journey our guide called for a stop at the trail hut so we could eat and rest a bit

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in station
a regular stopping place had lunch on a picnic table at a shady rest stop along the highway

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4

Synonym Chooser

How is the word stop distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of stop are cease, desist, discontinue, and quit. While all these words mean "to suspend or cause to suspend activity," stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness.

stopped at the red light

In what contexts can cease take the place of stop?

While in some cases nearly identical to stop, cease applies to states, conditions, or existence and may add a suggestion of gradualness and a degree of finality.

by nightfall the fighting had ceased

When can desist be used instead of stop?

In some situations, the words desist and stop are roughly equivalent. However, desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

desisted from further efforts to persuade them

When could discontinue be used to replace stop?

The meanings of discontinue and stop largely overlap; however, discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.

we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

When is quit a more appropriate choice than stop?

Although the words quit and stop have much in common, quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of stop
Verb
This fragmented process kills focus and stops them from delivering features. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 The intersection is the site of a Chicago Transit Authority Red Line subway station where trains stop 24 hours a day, along with hotels, luxury apartments, and office buildings. Darius Johnson, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Noun
Next stop is Seattle for a July 6 date against Belgium, which improbably won there earlier Wednesday with a 3-2 comeback over Senegal. Cam Inman, Mercury News, 2 July 2026 The exhibition’s London stop is the debut of a larger world tour. Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for stop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stop
Verb
  • Sony Interactive Entertainment, the largest video game company in the world by direct revenue, will reportedly cease production of physical discs for its formidable library of games for the PlayStation console.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • Founder David DeHaney, who set up the company in 2016, announced the decision to cease trading and appoint an administrator on Thursday.
    K.J. Yossman, Variety, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The blaze, which officials at one point estimated could reach 50 acres, had been halted at 5 acres.
    Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
  • Three cases reached the Supreme Court under emergency requests to halt deportation flights.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Combine gin, lime juice, syrup, Aperol and dry Curaçao in a shaker filled with ice.
    Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 25 June 2026
  • Parents are looking for activities that do more than fill the hours, and a good cooking class can hand a child real skills, real confidence and a few recipes worth making again at home.
    Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Soon after then-President Nicolás Maduro was captured by the US in January, Venezuela ended Cuba’s long-standing medical mission in the country, cutting off a key resource in underserved communities.
    Max Saltman, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • Kirby gave up a one-out double to Josh Lowe in the fifth but struck out the side — including Neto — to end the inning.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Rather than be benched, Devers batted cleanup, overcame an 0-for-3 start, and singled up the middle in the seventh to score Bryce Eldridge, who narrowly beat a tag at the plate for a 3-1 lead.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 24 June 2026
  • Its highly specialized strategy likely evolved to take advantage of the ant’s natural aggression and then overcome its defenses; the slingshot mechanism flings the ant from the foraging trail, reducing the risk that the spider will be swarmed by other workers, the researchers hypothesized.
    Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Jude Bellingham and Elliot Anderson have been subbed off in the 73rd minute, just after the players returned from the hydration break.
    Monica Alba, NBC news, 24 June 2026
  • Summer schedules, school breaks and birthday parties all share one thing in common.
    Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
Noun
  • Lawyers in the gas station lawsuit assert that technology is enabling antitrust violations.
    Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Transportation planners spent months warning that downtown streets, MARTA stations and major highways could experience significant disruptions on match days.
    Carson Bonner, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • But even Johnson is not immune to the bruising consequences of dealing with a president who critics say treats Congress as an obstacle, instead of an equal — frequently flexing his power through executive orders.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • Crews can drive directly into rivers or lakes without installing additional equipment, allowing the vehicle to continue moving even when water obstacles stand in the way.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stop. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on stop

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster