All Definitions for Stop
Below are all the dictionary definitions of stop:
1To cease moving.
2Not to continue.
3To cause (something) to cease moving or progressing.
4To cease
5To no longer continue.
6To cause (something) to come to an end.
7To interrupt, prevent or end the activity of someone or something. [with direct object, along with gerund (chiefly UK) or direct object, along with from, along with gerund (chiefly US)]
8To close or block an opening.
9To adjust the aperture of a camera lens.
10To stay
11To spend a short time
12To reside or tarry temporarily.
13To regulate the sounds of (musical strings, etc.) by pressing them against the fingerboard with the finger, or otherwise shortening the vibrating part.
14To make fast
15To stopper.
16To pronounce (a phoneme) as a stop.
17To delay the purchase or sale of (a stock) while agreeing the price for later.
18A (usually marked) place where buses, trams or trains halt to let passengers get on and off, usually smaller than a station.
19An action of stopping
20Interruption of travel.
21That which stops, impedes, or obstructs
22An obstacle
23An impediment.
24A device intended to block the path of a moving object
25A device, or piece, as a pin, block, pawl, etc., for arresting or limiting motion, or for determining the position to which another part shall be brought.
26A member, plain or moulded, formed of a separate piece and fixed to a jamb, against which a door or window shuts.
27A consonant sound in which the passage of air is temporarily blocked by the lips, tongue, or glottis.
28A symbol used for purposes of punctuation and representing a pause or separating clauses, particularly a full stop, comma, colon or semicolon.
29A knob or pin used to regulate the flow of air in an organ.
30One of the vent-holes in a wind instrument, or the place on the wire of a stringed instrument, by the stopping or pressing of which certain notes are produced.
31A very short shot which touches the ground close behind the net and is intended to bounce as little as possible.
32A save
33Preventing the opposition from scoring a goal
34The depression in a dog’s face between the skull and the nasal bones.
35A marking on a rabbit's hind foot.
36A part of a photographic system that reduces the amount of light.
37A unit of exposure corresponding to a doubling of the brightness of an image.
38An f-stop.
39The diaphragm used in optical instruments to cut off the marginal portions of a beam of light passing through lenses.
40A coup d'arret, or stop thrust.
41A small well-bucket
42A milk-pail.
43The squark that is the superpartner of a top quark.
44To punctuate.
45Ellipsis of full stop. [(UK, Ireland, Commonwealth) The punctuation mark ⟨.⟩ (indicating the end of a sentence or marking an abbreviation).]
About antonyms for stop
Finding the right antonym for stop helps writers create contrast, clarify meaning, and add depth to their work. Defined as "To cease moving.", stop has 6 opposite words that can be used to express contrasting ideas.
Each antonym carries a slightly different shade of opposition. Preserve is the most direct opposite in most situations. Start works well when the context calls for a more nuanced contrast. Continue is often preferred when the context calls for a specific type of opposition.
When choosing an antonym, consider the connotation, formality level, and audience. Some alternatives work better in casual conversation while others shine in academic or professional writing. For example, using a more formal antonym in a business email can elevate your tone, while a casual antonym might feel more natural in creative writing or dialogue.
It is also worth noting that not all antonyms are perfectly interchangeable. The context of your sentence, the surrounding words, and the intended emotional impact all play a role in selecting the best opposite word. The list above provides the most common and useful antonyms for stop, but always read your sentence aloud to ensure the chosen word flows naturally.