English Reference
adverb · adjective · noun

nonstop

adv. · adj. · n.
US /ˌnɑnˈstɑp/ UK /nˌɒnstˈɒp/ non·stop

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    adv.doing something continuously without stopping.

    adv.occurring or performing an action without interruption or pause.

    Simple

    It rained nonstop for three days, so we had to stay inside.

    In context

    The legal team worked nonstop through the weekend to ensure the merger documents were finalised before the markets opened on Monday morning.

    Usage

    Usually placed after the verb it modifies.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    adj.describing a journey or activity that has no stops or breaks.

    adj.denoting a journey, flight, or activity that proceeds to its destination or conclusion without intermediate pauses.

    Simple

    We took a nonstop flight from London to New York to save time.

    In context

    The candidate's nonstop campaigning across the northern provinces eventually resulted in a significant lead in the local polls.

    Usage

    Typically used before a noun.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Travel

    n.a flight or trip that goes from one place to another without stopping.

    n.a journey, particularly an aircraft flight, that does not involve any intermediate stops between the point of departure and the destination.

    Simple

    Is there a nonstop to Tokyo, or do I have to change planes?

    In context

    The airline recently added a daily nonstop to Singapore, catering specifically to business travellers who wish to avoid lengthy connections in Dubai.

    direct flight
    layoverconnection
  4. 04 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    n.a speech sound that you can keep making without stopping the air, like 's' or 'm'.

    n.a speech sound produced without a complete closure of the vocal tract, allowing for a continuous flow of air.

    Simple

    The letter 'f' is a nonstop because the air keeps moving.

    In context

    Phonetic analysis reveals that nonstops, such as fricatives and liquids, contrast sharply with plosives in terms of their acoustic duration.

    Usage

    Used specifically within the field of linguistics and phonetics.

    continuant
    stopplosive

From non- + stop.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated