English Profile

stop · verb

/stɑp/Full view

Word family

Nouns: stop, stoppage

Adjectives: nonstop

Verbs: stop

Adverbs: nonstop

stop (FINISH)

A1 I or T to not continue doing something that you were doing

Dictionary examples:

Once I start eating chocolate, I can't stop.

Stop shouting - you're giving me a headache!

I couldn't stop laughing.

Stop it!/Stop that!

When will it stop snowing?

Fortunately, police stopped the fight before anyone got hurt.

Learner example:

Once you have started, you will not want to stop. (Key English Test; A2; Chinese)

stop (BUS/TRAIN)

A2 I If a bus, train, etc. stops at a particular place, it pauses at that place so that people can get on and off.

Dictionary example:

Does this bus stop at Thirty-fourth Street?

Learner example:

The train stopped at the station. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Tamil)

stop (PAUSE)

A2 I to stop a trip or an activity for a short time

Dictionary examples:

He stopped at a coffee shop for lunch.

Why don't you just stop somewhere and ask for directions?

I stopped to pick up a letter that I'd dropped.

Learner example:

We went cycling north, following the coast from a road and about four hours later we stopped at a beautiful beach, where we had a lot of fun. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Portuguese)

stop (PREVENT)

B1 T to prevent someone from doing something or something from happening

Dictionary examples:

Something must be done to stop the fighting.

If she really wants to leave, I don't understand what's stopping her.

Learner example:

I went and beat one of the guys to stop the fighting, however, the fighting didn't stop. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Arabic)

stop (NOT MOVE)

B1 I or T to not move any more or to make someone or something not move any more

Dictionary examples:

Stop the car, I want to get out!

I heard him shout, "Stop right now!"

Learner example:

We were disap[p]ointed because we wanted to walk more and were ready to go home, but Sasha said: "Stop!" (Preliminary English Test; B1; Russian)

stop (NOT OPERATE)

B1 I or T to not continue to operate, or to make something not continue to operate

Dictionary examples:

My watch stopped.

Can you stop the video for a minute?

The air conditioner stopped working.

Learner example:

If I am driving my car and suddenly the engine stops working, I can call, from my cell [phone], and ask for help. (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

stop at nothing

C1 to be willing to do anything in order to achieve something

Dictionary example:

He will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Learner example:

They stopped at nothing to get the higher scores, to make themselves noticed, even if that meant telling some lies to a teacher about a schoolmate. (First Certificate in English; B2; Portuguese)

stop short of sth/doing sth

C2 to almost do something but decide not to do it

Dictionary example:

She stopped short of accusing him of lying.

stop over

B2 to stop somewhere for a short period of time when you are on a long journey

Dictionary example:

We stopped over in Los Angeles for two nights on the way to New Zealand.

stop · noun C

/stɑp/

Word family

Nouns: stop, stoppage

Adjectives: nonstop

Verbs: stop

Adverbs: nonstop

stop (PLACE)

A1 a place where vehicles, especially buses, stop in order to allow passengers to get off and on

Dictionary examples:

a bus stop

I'm getting off at the next stop.

Is this our stop?

Learner example:

[The] bus stop is near the market. (Skills for Life (Entry 1); A1; Polish)

stop (TRIP/ACTIVITY)

B1 when you stop an activity or trip, or a period of time when you stop

Dictionary examples:

Please remain in your seat until the plane comes to a complete stop.

We'd have been here sooner, but we made a few stops along the way.

At the beginning of the project there were a lot of stops and starts.

Learner example:

The best part was (without a doubt) when I made a little stop in a small town... I f[e]ll in love with that town! (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

put a stop to sth

C1 to end something unpleasant

Dictionary example:

We must put a stop to the violence.

Learner example:

Maybe these new activities (video - video games), which are quite distracti[ng], are at the same time so addictive that youngsters find it hard to put a stop to it. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Italian)