stop
Translation
to stop, to cease, to halt, to quit
Examples
Please stop the car.
Please stop the car.
The rain stopped.
The rain stopped.
He stopped smoking last year.
He stopped smoking last year.
She stopped to talk to her friend.
She stopped to talk to her friend.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to cause (sth.) to cease moving Please stop the car.
((-ing)) to cease an activity He stopped smoking last year.
((to-inf)) to pause one activity in order to do another She stopped to talk to her friend.
Similar Words
Synonyms: cease, halt, quit; Antonyms: start, begin, continue
Etymology
From Old English 'stoppian', meaning 'to plug up'. It originally meant to fill a hole.
Memory Tips
Picture a red, octagonal STOP sign. It's a universal symbol for 'do not proceed'.