stop 1 of 2

verb

ˈstäp How to pronounce stop (audio)
Definition of stopnext
1
as in to cease
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end the manufacturer will stop selling the toy and will immediately recall all the units that have already been sold

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to halt
to bring (something) to a standstill traffic was stopped for over an hour by the overturned truck

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fill
to close up so that no empty spaces remain I stopped the mouse hole with plaster

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to end
to come to an end the music stopped but we kept on dancing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to overcome
to achieve a victory over they were eventually stopped by the best team in the league

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
as in obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult pulled out all the stops and presented the most spectacular show ever

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in halt
the stopping of a process or activity put a stop to this nonsense

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Later, when Charleson died, the newspaper ran the story on the front page, with Ian McKellen declaring that that’s what Charleson and his family had wanted — to stop the pussyfooting around HIV/AIDS. — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026 In reality, the whole elaborate illusion depends upon everyone in the room retaining the power to stop it. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
When everyone can shorten development time with AI, being fast stops setting you apart. — Tim Lee, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 Miami’s defense had some timely stops throughout the game, yet the offense was unable to reciprocate. — Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for stop
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stop
  1. cease
  2. halt
  3. fill
  4. end
  5. overcome
  6. break
  7. station
  8. obstacle
Verb
  • But sea otters have not ceased to be adorable — or a keystone species.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • But without custodians, this will cease to be the case in the long term.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of cease
Verb
  • The question also raised the recent spread of controversies over individual films into attacks on cast and crew and campaigns to halt screenings.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • In May, Tennessee halted another execution when an intravenous line could not be established into an inmate.
    — Jim Turner, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of halt
Verb
  • Around the three-and-a-half-hour mark of the race, the finish-line medical tent filled.
    — Vibhu Krishna, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The interiors, meanwhile, are by Philip Johnson and filled with an insane Warhol-and-Jeff-Koons art collection thanks to billionaire owner Aby Rosen.
    — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of fill
Verb
  • The best way to get costs down is to end the war in Ukraine and open the Strait of Hormuz that Iran is trying to hold hostage.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • With that, Dorinda gathers everyone (except for Chanel Ayan, who is too beautiful for the cold) out into the freezing night for the fireworks that end this celebration.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of end
Verb
  • However, the proposal faces a steep procedural obstacle in the Senate, where most legislation needs 60 votes to invoke cloture and overcome a filibuster.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
  • To overcome this, scientists are exploring optical wireless communication options that can complement radio frequencies.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of overcome
Noun
  • The high-collar silhouette, a stand-up neckline that extends several inches above the shoulders with no lapel break, is showing up on runways, in mass-market store windows and across editorial coverage heading into the colder months.
    — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In a break from her party’s policies, Peltola has thrown her support behind the Alaska LNG project as way to lower energy costs for Alaskans.
    — Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of break
Noun
  • If the phasing is right, Dragon can begin catching the station almost immediately.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The letter called for greater regional collaboration to keep New England’s remaining nuclear stations operational and to identify potential locations for expansion.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of station
Noun
  • Galarza said misconceptions about electric stoves are the largest obstacle to broader use.
    — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Read More Roborock’s Saros 20 stands out for its ability to climb tall thresholds, avoid obstacles with impressive accuracy, and clean under low furniture thanks to its slim design.
    — Brad Bourque, The Verge, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of obstacle

Phrases Containing stop

Browse Nearby Words

stoop (to)
stop
stop (by)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stop.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stop. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on stop

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stop

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All