English Reference
verb · adjective

stopped

v. · adj.
US /ˈstɑpt/ UK /stˈɒpt/ stopped

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    v.to have finished doing something or to have come to an end.

    v.the past tense of 'stop', indicating the cessation of an activity or process.

    Simple

    The rain finally stopped after three days of heavy storms.

    In context

    The production line stopped abruptly when a sensor detected a misalignment in the primary assembly arm.

    Pitfall
    He stopped to smoke. He stopped smoking.

    Use 'stopped' followed by an -ing verb to mean the habit ended. Using 'to' means he paused his journey in order to smoke.

  2. 02 A2 Elementary

    v.to have stayed somewhere for a short time during a journey.

    v.the past tense of 'stop', indicating a temporary stay or pause at a location during transit.

    Simple

    We stopped at a small café for lunch on our way to the coast.

    In context

    The delegation stopped in Geneva for forty-eight hours to consult with local officials before proceeding to the summit in Brussels.

  3. 03 A2 Elementary

    adj.not moving or no longer in motion.

    adj.describing a state of arrested motion; often used for vehicles or machinery that have ceased operation.

    Simple

    The police officer walked toward the stopped car to check the driver's ID.

    In context

    The investigation focused on the stopped train, attempting to determine why the emergency brakes had engaged without driver intervention.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.blocked or filled so that nothing can pass through.

    adj.describing a pipe, passage, or container that is obstructed or closed at one end.

    Simple

    The sink was stopped with hair and soap, so the water wouldn't drain.

    In context

    The plumber identified a stopped pipe deep within the building's foundation that was causing the backup in the lower levels above-ground units.

  5. 05 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    adj.describing sounds made by completely closing your mouth for a moment.

    adj.referring to a consonant produced by a complete obstruction of the airflow in the vocal tract.

    Simple

    The letters 'p' and 'b' are examples of stopped sounds.

    In context

    Phonetic analysis reveals that the speaker frequently omits the final stopped consonant when speaking at a natural conversational pace.

    Usage

    Usually placed before the noun 'consonant' or 'sound'.

    plosive
    fricative

Usage stopped working · stopped short · stopped playing


From stop + -ed. In some senses, the adjective follows from the verb; in others, it may derive directly from the noun stop.

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

This entry
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Very common
Updated