Stop

To cease or discontinue a movement, action, or process; to bring something to a halt. This can involve physical cessation, such as stopping a car, or a more abstract halt, like stopping a conversation. It often implies an intentional act, a decision to end something, or an enforced cessation by an external factor. The concept is also applied metaphorically, referring to blocking, preventing, or obstructing something. The context dictates whether the cessation is temporary or permanent, and whether it applies to a concrete or abstract entity. Crucially, 'stop' signifies an end, even if only for a defined period, to what was previously happening.

Stop meaning with examples

• The bus driver announced that we would stop at the next gas station. Passengers settled in, ready for a break on their long journey. People hoped that they could stop here for at least a half hour. This allowed everyone to stretch their legs, buy a coffee, and stop from needing the restroom and stretch before continuing on their trip. It was a scheduled stop.
• She desperately tried to stop the bleeding from the wound by applying pressure. Her focus was entirely on the first aid, determined to stop the blood flow and call an ambulance. She was calm as possible and told the others to stop panicking. They couldn't let the victim stop breathing. Emergency services soon arrived and helped her.
• The government implemented new regulations to stop the spread of misinformation online. They wanted to stop the manipulation by foreign entities that was influencing the populace. The aim was to stop the distribution of harmful content that could be used to make people act with malice and aggression. It was a huge undertaking to make certain it would stop.
• He had to stop drinking coffee late in the afternoon to be able to sleep well. The caffeine would not let him stop from being over-stimulated and he found it increasingly difficult to stop his mind from racing when trying to relax. He really tried to stop being addicted, which made it harder to stop. He also had to learn how to stop drinking soda to stay in line.
• The referee blew the whistle to stop the football game due to a sudden downpour. He signaled that the players should stop running, and both teams retreated to their locker rooms. The weather forced the officials to stop the event. Once the weather was better, they would restart the game. They decided to stop the game and call it the next day.