Another word for stop (stop synonyms)+ video

Using another word for stop (stop synonyms) shows our English level. As an English language learner, you already know that there are some cool words you can use instead of just saying ‘stop.’ For instance, you could say ‘cease,’ which means to put an end to something. Or try ‘halt,’ which means to come to a stop. ‘Pause’ is another neat word that means to take a momentary break. If you’re in a rush and need to stop something abruptly, you can say ‘halt’ or ‘freeze.’ It’s like adding a little flair to your vocabulary, and it can make your conversations more interesting!

“Stop” is a simple word that means to bring something to an end. It’s like hitting a pause button or saying, “That’s enough!” When we use the word “stop,” it’s a way of telling someone or something to not continue what they were doing. It can be used in various situations, such as stopping a game, a conversation, sop worrying, stop being lazy, stop entering, etc.

But if you want to stop someone from doing something, aren’t there any other words to make your sentence more native-like? Of course, there is!

In this lesson of POC English, you will learn about the most common synonyms of stop in English. Stay with us to learn how to use another word for stop in your sentences!

1. To prevent (another word for stop)

Imagine you have a superpower called ‘prevent’. It’s like having a shield that stops something from happening. So, if you don’t want a cookie thief to snatch your favorite treats, you ‘prevent’ them by keeping an eye on your cookies or putting them in a secret spot. Or, if you don’t want a puddle to ruin your fancy shoes, you can wear rain boots to ‘prevent’ it. ‘Prevent’ is another word for stop, it is like your superhero power to stop things you don’t want from happening.

The verb “prevent” is one of the synonyms of stop that has two different meanings:

1. To stop somebody from doing something.

For example, the police tried to prevent him from leaving.

Pay close attention to the sentence structure:

You prevent somebody from doing something. in this sentence, the police prevent the man from leaving.

• His father was trying to prevent him from joining the army.

 

In this sentence, the father was preventing the son from joining the army.

1. To stop something from happening.

For example, vaccination will prevent the spread of the virus.

 

For this meaning, our sentence structure will be like this:

Prevent something

• We should try to prevent accidents.

 

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2. To obstruct (Of stop synonyms in English)

• After the storm, a fallen tree obstructed the road.

 

This sentence means that there was a tree on the road and cars couldn’t go past the tree.

 

Learn more: Listening to English podcasts is a great way that help you improve your English level. Click on the following link to learn more about it:
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3. To hinder (Of synonym for stop)

“Imagine you’re on a bike ride, and suddenly there’s a really bumpy, rocky road. It slows you down, right? Well, that’s kind of like what ‘to hinder’ means. When something hinders, it’s like a roadblock that makes it tougher to do what you want to do. For instance, if you’re trying to finish your homework but your noisy neighbors are playing loud music, it can hinder your concentration. Or if you’re racing in a game and someone puts obstacles in your way, they’re hindering your progress. So, ‘to hinder’ is like saying something is making a task harder than it needs to be. It’s like having an extra challenge to overcome.”

So, the verb “hinder” is another word for stop, which means to make it difficult for somebody to do something or for something to happen.

• The storm may hinder the train from arriving on time.

Notice the structure:

Hinder somebody/something from doing something

• Financial problems hindered him from going on a trip.

It means that lack of money stopped him from going on a trip.

 

Learn more: different ways to say I want 

 

4. To prohibit (Of stop synonyms)

“Imagine you’re at a playground, and there’s a sign that says ‘No running.’ That sign is there to prohibit running in that area. So, when we say ‘to prohibit,’ it means to officially say ‘no’ to something, usually because it’s not safe, allowed, or appropriate in a certain place or situation. Like how some places prohibit smoking because it can be harmful, or how a movie might be prohibited for kids if it’s not suitable for their age. It’s like setting rules to keep everyone safe and comfortable. So, ‘to prohibit’ is like putting up a sign that says, ‘Hey, this isn’t allowed here!’.”

So, prohibit is a formal verb of synonyms of stop and is usually used in serious situations. It means to officially stop something from happening by making rules, to now allow or forbid something.

For example, the government prohibited people from using public spaces without a face mask.

Notice the structure:

Prohibit somebody from doing something.

• Trucks are prohibited from driving on this road.

 

Learn more: If you are interested in to learn about the different ways to say I like in English, follow the link below:
ways to say I like

 

5. To hamper (Of other words for stop)

“Alright, let’s talk about ‘hamper’ (which is another word for stop). Imagine you’re in a race, and suddenly you have to carry a big bag full of rocks. That bag would slow you down and make it harder to run, right? Well, that’s what it means when something ‘hampers’ you. It’s like having a heavy backpack when you’re trying to climb a hill. ‘To hamper’ means something is getting in the way or making a task more difficult. For example, if you’re trying to clean your room but there’s stuff all over the floor, it’s going to hamper your progress. It’s like having an extra challenge to deal with. So, ‘to hamper’ is like saying something is making a task tougher than it needs to be!”

So, one of the formal synonyms of stop in English is hamper. It means to make something difficult happen. For example, budget restrictions hampered the project.

This sentence means that due to the lack of money they couldn’t finish the project, so the project had to stop.

• Construction is hampering traffic on the highway.

 

It means due to the construction, traffic can not move forward easily.

 

Learn more: synonyms for i think

 

6. To stand in somebody’s way (Of stop synonyms)

Imagine you’re at a sports event, and you’re trying to get a good view of the game. Now, if someone suddenly steps right in front of you, blocking your view, they’re ‘standing in your way’ (this word is another word for stop). It’s not just about physical obstacles, though. When we say someone is ‘standing in somebody’s way,’ it means they’re making it harder for that person to achieve something or do what they want to do. Like if you have big dreams and someone keeps telling you all the reasons why they won’t work, they’re standing in your way. It’s like having a roadblock in your path. Remember, though, with determination and creative thinking, you can often find a way around those who stand in your way!”

Imagine someone you love (for example one of your family members) decides to go abroad to study and of course, it’s a hard decision to make. In this situation you can say:

“Well, if you want to go and study abroad I won’t stand in your way. Even though it’s very difficult for me.”

Another example:

• If he really loves you, he won’t stand in your way.

 

It means that he won’t stop you from doing what you want to do.

 

7. To stand in the way of something

Let’s talk about ‘standing in the way of something’ (which is of stop synonyms in English). It’s like when there’s something you really want to achieve or do, and there’s an obstacle or a person making it harder for you. For example, if you dream of becoming a great artist, but someone keeps telling you that you’re not good enough, they’re standing in the way of your dream. It’s like having a big rock in the middle of your path. But remember, just because something or someone stands in the way, it doesn’t mean you can’t find a way around it or even move the obstacle with some creativity and determination. So, ‘to stand in the way of something’ means there’s something blocking your path to achieving what you want, but with persistence, you can often find a solution!”

This item of synonyms of stop is quite similar to the last one. Look at this example:

• Don’t let anything stand in the way of your happiness.

 

It means don’t let anything stop you from being happy.

• • I don’t want to stand in the way of progress.

It means that I don’t want to stop progress from happening.

 

Learn more: I agree with you synonym

 

8. Back off

“Back off” means to move away or stop interfering in a situation.

Example: If two friends are arguing and you try to get involved, one of them might say, “Hey, back off! This is between us.” It means they want you to stay out of it.

 

9. Call it off

“Call it off” means to cancel something.

Example: If you planned a picnic but it starts raining, you might say, “Let’s call it off.” This means you’re canceling the picnic.

 

10. pull the plug

“Pull the plug” means to stop or end something.

Example: If a company is losing money on a project, they might decide to “pull the plug,” which means they stop the project completely.

11. Lay off

“Lay off” means to stop employing someone because there isn’t enough work or money.

Meaning: If a factory isn’t selling enough products, it might lay off some workers, meaning those workers lose their jobs.

 

12. Cool it

“Cool it” means to calm down or stop being angry or excited.

Example: If two friends are shouting at each other, someone might say, “Hey, cool it!” This means they want them to calm down and stop arguing.

 

Formal synonyms for stop in English

In this section we are going to learn some formal synonyms for stop :

1. Cease (A formal synonym for stop):

Cease is of formal synonyms for stop that means to bring something to an end or to make it stop happening. Imagine you’re playing a game, and suddenly someone says, “Cease!” It means that the game needs to stop right away. Maybe it’s because it’s getting too late, or because something unexpected happened. So when we use the word “cease,” it’s like giving a command to stop whatever is going on at that moment. It’s a way of saying, “Okay, everyone, let’s bring this to an end and pause what we were doing.”

2. Halt (another word for stop):

“Halt” is another synonym for stop that means to suddenly stop or come to a complete pause. Imagine you’re riding a bicycle and someone shouts, “Halt!” It means you need to stop pedaling and bring the bike to a stop immediately. Halt is a strong word that tells you to freeze and not move any further. It’s like hitting a pause button in a game or stopping in the middle of a race. So when we use the word “halt,” it’s a way of saying, “Stop right where you are and don’t go any farther.” It’s important to pay attention and obey when someone says “halt” for safety or to give instructions.

 

3. Terminate (A synonym for stopping):

“Terminate” is a formal synonym of stop that means to bring something to an end or to make it stop completely. Imagine you’re watching a movie, and suddenly it reaches the very end. You might see the word “The End” on the screen. That’s when the movie has terminated. When we use the word “terminate,” it means to finish or stop something permanently. It’s like closing a book once you’ve finished reading it or turning off a TV show when it’s over. So when we say something is terminated, we mean it’s reached its final point and won’t continue any further. It’s like saying, “That’s it! We’re done!”

Learn more: alternatives to say

4. Discontinue (Of synonyms of stop in English):

“Discontinue” is also a synonym for stop that means to stop doing or using something that was happening regularly. Imagine you have a favorite TV show, and suddenly the network decides not to air it anymore. They discontinue the show, which means they won’t make any new episodes and it won’t be on TV anymore. When we say “discontinue,” it’s like saying, “We’re going to stop doing this or using this from now on.” It’s like when you decide to stop playing a game or using a toy because you don’t enjoy it anymore or it’s not available. So, when something is discontinued, it means it’s being permanently stopped or taken out of use.

5. Abandon (A synonym for stop):

“Abandon” is of synonyms of stop that means to leave or give up something or someone without taking care of them anymore. Imagine you have a pet fish, and one day someone decides they don’t want to take care of it anymore. They might abandon the fish by leaving it alone without food or water. When we say “abandon,” it means to leave something or someone behind and not look after them anymore. It’s like leaving a toy on the playground and never going back to get it. Abandoning can be sad because it means giving up on something or someone and not taking responsibility for them. It’s important to always show care and responsibility for the things and people we have in our lives.

Learn more: What are synonyms for but in English?

 

6. Desist (another word for stop):

“Desist” is of formal synonyms for stop that means to stop doing something that you were doing before. Imagine you’re playing a game with your friends, and suddenly someone says, “Desist!” It means you should stop whatever you were doing in the game. It’s like hitting a pause button and deciding not to continue with that particular action. When we say “desist,” it’s a way of saying, “Okay, let’s stop doing this now and choose a different course of action.” It’s like when you’re drawing a picture and decide to stop coloring because you want to do something else. So, “desist” is another word for stop, that tells us to stop and change what we were doing before.

7. Suspend (Of stop synonyms):

“Suspend” is of stop synonyms in English that means to temporarily stop or pause something for a little while. Imagine you’re playing a game at school, and suddenly the teacher says, “We need to suspend the game.” It means that the game is being put on hold for a bit. When we say “suspend,” it’s like pressing the pause button on a video or stopping a song in the middle. It’s a temporary break where we stop the activity for a short time. It could be because we need to take care of something important or address a situation. So, when something is suspended, it means we’re taking a break from it and will come back to it later.

8. Curb (Of synonym for stop):

“Curb” is also a formal synonym of stop that means to control or limit something. Imagine you’re riding a bicycle really fast, and suddenly you see a curb on the road. You need to slow down and ride carefully to avoid going over the curb. When we say “curb,” it’s like putting a boundary or restriction on something. It’s similar to when your parents tell you to limit the amount of candy you eat, or when a teacher asks the class to lower their voices. Curb is another word for stop that means to keep something in check and not let it go too far or become too much. It’s a way of saying, “Let’s control this and make sure it doesn’t get out of hand.” So, when we talk about curbing something, we mean putting a limit on it to keep it under control.

9. Interrupt (Of synonyms of stop in English):

“Interrupt” is of synonyms for stop that means to break into or disturb someone or something while they are doing or saying something. Imagine you’re having a conversation with a friend, and suddenly someone else comes in and starts talking loudly, causing you to stop your conversation. That person interrupted you. When we say “interrupt” (that is another word for stop), it means to stop someone or something momentarily and divert their attention to something else. It’s like when you’re watching your favorite TV show, and a phone call interrupts the show because you have to answer the phone. It can be a little disruptive and can pause the flow of what was happening. So, when we talk about interrupting, we mean briefly stopping or distracting someone or something in the middle of an activity or conversation.

10. Arrest (another word for stop)

“Arrest” is a synonym for stop that means to take someone into custody or to stop them because they may have done something against the law. Imagine you’re playing a game of tag, and suddenly the person who is “it” tags you and says, “You’re under arrest!” It means they caught you, and you have to stop playing because you’re “in custody.” When we say “arrest” (that is of stop synonyms), it’s like the police stopping someone who they think has done something wrong. It’s a way of temporarily taking them away to make sure everything is safe and to find out what happened. Arrests usually happen when someone is suspected of breaking the rules or laws. So, when we talk about an arrest, it means someone is being stopped by the authorities because they may have done something against the rules or the law.

 

11. Conclude

The word “conclude” means to bring something to an end or finish it. For example, if you’re reading a book, when you reach the last page, you conclude reading the book. It can also mean to come to a decision or judgment after thinking about something. For instance, after looking at all the facts, you might conclude that someone is telling the truth. In short, to conclude means to wrap something up or decide something after careful consideration.

12. Refrain

The word “refrain” means to stop yourself from doing something you want to do. For example, if you see a delicious cake but decide not to eat it because you’re on a diet, you are refraining from eating the cake. It’s like holding back or resisting the urge to do something. So, when you refrain, you choose not to do something, even though you might want to.

13. Cut off

The phrase “cut off” means to stop something suddenly or completely. For example, if you’re talking on the phone and the call suddenly ends, you might say the call was cut off. It can also mean to disconnect or remove something, like cutting off a branch from a tree. So, when you cut off something, you stop it from continuing or separate it from its source.

14. Constrain

The word “constrain” means to limit or restrict someone or something. For example, if you are tied up with ropes, your movements are constrained because the ropes are limiting what you can do. It can also mean to force someone to do something by putting pressure on them. So, when you constrain, you either hold back actions or push someone to act in a certain way, restricting their freedom to choose or move.

15. Constrain

The word “curtail” means to reduce or limit something. For example, if you need to save money, you might curtail your spending by buying fewer things. It can also mean to cut something short or make it shorter. So, when you curtail something, you are making it smaller, less, or shorter than it was before.

16. Restrain

The word “restrain” means to hold back or control someone or something. For example, if a person is angry and you hold their arms to stop them from hitting someone, you are restraining them. It can also mean to stop yourself from doing something, like when you restrain yourself from eating too much candy. So, to restrain means to keep something under control or prevent it from happening.

17. Interdict

The word “interdict” means to officially forbid or stop something from happening. For example, if the government interdicts the sale of certain drugs, it means those drugs are not allowed to be sold by law. It can also mean to block or disrupt, like when authorities interdict the supply routes of illegal goods. So, to interdict is to use authority to ban or prevent something from taking place.

18. Suppress

The word “suppress” means to stop something from happening or to keep something hidden. For example, if someone feels like crying but holds back their tears, they are suppressing their emotions. It can also mean to end something by force, like when a government suppresses a protest by sending in police. So, to suppress means to control, hide, or forcibly stop something.

 

Now you are familiar with the most common synonyms of stop in English. As you know, being a good speaker requires knowing a wide range of vocabulary. Therefore, you should learn about techniques in order to improve English vocabulary. Also, it’s really important to learn and improve English grammar and try to make sentences like native speakers. Therefore, taking a good English course could be a great way to improve all these skills. Our online English course covers all main skills for beginner, intermediate and advanced level students. Take this course and learn English like a piece of cake!

Besides the general course, the POC English also has an IELTS course appropriate for the students who are going to get a high score. Take our online IELTS course and get prepared for this exam with the help of teacher Maddy.

 

Conclusion of synonyms of stop

Now, you know 7 synonyms of  stop in English. Let’s review all of them:

 

Verb	Structure
1. To prevent	To stop somebody from doing something  /  To stop somebody from doing something
2. To obstruct	To obstruct something
3. To hinder	Hinder somebody/something from doing something
4. To prohibit	Prohibit somebody from doing something
5. To hamper	To hamper something
6. To stand	To stand in somebody’s way  /  To stand in the way of something
7. To cease	To bring something to an end or to make it stop happening
8. To halt	To suddenly stop or come to a complete pause.
9. To terminate	To bring something to an end or to make it stop completely.
10. To discontinue	To stop doing or using something that was happening regularly.
11. To abandon	To leave or give up something or someone without taking care of them anymore.
12. To desist	To stop doing something that you were doing before.
13. To suspend	To temporarily stop or pause something for a little while.
14. To curb	To control or limit something.
15. To interrupt	To break into or disturb someone or something while they are doing or saying something.
16. To arrest	To take someone into custody or to stop them because they may have done something against the law.

 

Don’t forget to practice them by using them in your sentences. If you have any suggestions or comments, I looking forward to reading them!