# halt

/ˈhɔɫt/ (US) · /hˈɒlt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/halt
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to stop

verb · CEFR B2

to stop moving or to stop an activity immediately.

For teachers: to bring to a stop or to cease moving; often used in military or formal contexts.

- The soldiers were ordered to halt at the edge of the forest.
- The production line was forced to halt immediately after a critical mechanical failure was detected in the primary cooling system.

Usage: Can be used both transitively (to halt something) and intransitively (to halt).

### 2. a stop

noun · CEFR B2

a temporary stop in movement or progress.

For teachers: a suspension of movement or activity, typically temporary in nature.

- The car came to a sudden halt when a cat ran across the road.
- Negotiations came to a grinding halt as neither side was willing to compromise on the final budgetary requirements.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'come to a halt' or 'call a halt to'.

### 3. small train station

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

a very small train station, usually without any staff or buildings.

For teachers: a minor railway station, typically unstaffed and possessing minimal facilities.

- The train only stops at the village halt if you signal the driver.
- The rural halt consisted of nothing more than a short wooden platform and a single weathered signpost indicating the next destination.

### 4. lame

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

an old word for someone who is unable to walk properly because of an injury.

For teachers: physically disabled or lame; specifically referring to a limping gait.

- The old story tells of a king who helped the poor and the halt.
- In the biblical passage, the beggar was described as halt and blind, sitting by the city gates to ask for alms.

Teaching tip: This sense is almost exclusively found in historical literature or religious texts; it is not used in modern medical or social contexts.

## Examples

- The car came to a sudden halt at the red light.
- Production at the factory came to a grinding halt after the main power generator failed.
- The peace negotiations were brought to a sudden halt when both parties failed to agree on the terms of the ceasefire.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.