# stopping

/ˈstɑpɪŋ/ (US) · /stˈɒpɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stopping
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. ending an action

verb · CEFR A2

the act of finishing an activity or coming to a halt.

For teachers: the present participle of 'stop', indicating the cessation of motion or activity.

- The rain is finally stopping, so we can go for a walk now.
- The driver managed to avoid a collision by stopping the vehicle just inches from the barrier.

### 2. a halt

noun · CEFR B1

the act of making something stop or stay still.

For teachers: the act of bringing something to a standstill or the state of being halted.

- The sudden stopping of the train made all the passengers jump.
- The frequent stopping and starting of the bus during rush hour made the commute feel much longer than usual.

### 3. dental filling

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

material used by a dentist to fill a hole in a tooth.

For teachers: a substance used for obturating a cavity in a tooth.

- The old man went to the dentist to replace a loose stopping in his tooth.
- The historical records indicate that various metallic compounds were used as stopping for dental cavities before modern resins were developed.

Usage: Commonly replaced by 'filling' in modern clinical and everyday contexts.

## Examples

- The sudden stopping of the music surprised everyone in the room.
- Frequent starting and stopping in heavy traffic can cause significant wear on a car's brakes over time.
- The abrupt stopping of the engine signaled a mechanical failure that would require immediate attention from the engineering crew before the flight could proceed.

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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.