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Halt Very Common

Halt has 13 different meanings across 3 categories:

Noun · Verb · Adjective

Definitions
Noun
1

the state of inactivity following an interruption

"the negotiations were in arrest"

"held them in check"

"during the halt he got some lunch"

"the momentary stay enabled him to escape the blow"

"he spent the entire stop in his seat"

2

the event of something ending

"it came to a stop at the bottom of the hill"

3

an interruption or temporary suspension of progress or movement

"a halt in the arms race"

"a nuclear freeze"

4

A cessation, either temporary or permanent.

"The old horse moved with a noticeable halt, favoring its injured leg."

5

Lameness; a limp.

In plain English: A halt is an official order to stop moving immediately.

"The traffic came to an abrupt halt after the accident on the highway."

Verb
1

cause to stop

"Halt the engines"

"Arrest the progress"

"halt the presses"

2

come to a halt, stop moving

"the car stopped"

"She stopped in front of a store window"

3

stop from happening or developing

"Block his election"

"Halt the process"

4

stop the flow of a liquid

"staunch the blood flow"

"stem the tide"

5

To limp; move with a limping gait.

"The general ordered his troops to halt before they reached the riverbank."

6

To stop marching.

In plain English: To halt means to stop moving completely and stay still right where you are.

"The driver had to halt immediately when the deer ran into the road."

Usage: Use halt to mean stopping movement completely rather than moving slowly or limping. This verb is often confused with stop when describing an abrupt end to action versus a gradual slowing down.

Adjective
1

disabled in the feet or legs

"a crippled soldier"

"a game leg"

2

Lame, limping.

"After twisting his ankle in the marathon, he had to halt while everyone else kept running."

Example Sentences
"The traffic came to an abrupt halt after the accident on the highway." noun
"The traffic came to an abrupt halt when the light turned red." noun
"We waited in long halt for several hours before boarding the train." noun
"His sudden halt confused everyone walking behind him down the hallway." noun
"The driver had to halt immediately when the deer ran into the road." verb
See Also
stop delay tab stop march waver snub anapnea pull plug
Related Terms
Antonyms
go
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
inaction ending pause stop prevent check
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
countercheck logjam cessation stand go off pull up short check rein stall draw up brake settle embargo stay

Origin

The word "halt" comes from Old English healtian, which originally meant "to be lame or walk with a limp." Its current meaning to stop moving developed later in Middle English when it was used as a noun before becoming a verb again.

Rhyming Words
alt balt falt galt walt salt malt exalt dealt awalt shalt spalt smalt cobalt oswalt rewalt tybalt basalt anhalt desalt
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