to stop doing something

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   to end an activity or habit and no longer do it.

   Grammar: Followed by a verb in the -ing form: stop doing something, never 'stop to do' for this meaning.

   Patterns

   • stop doing something
   • stop someone from doing something
   • stop doing something for a while

   He stopped smoking last year.

   Please stop making that noise.

   She stopped working at six and went home.

2. 2phrasefixed phrase

   to pause an activity for a short time and then continue it.

   Grammar: Often used with 'for' plus a length of time: stop doing something for ten minutes.

   Patterns

   • stop doing something for a while
   • stop doing something to rest

   We stopped studying for a short break.

   They stopped talking when the teacher came in.

Common combinations

stop doing something altogether

He stopped eating meat altogether.

stop someone from doing something

The rain stopped us from finishing the game.

can't stop doing something

She can't stop checking her phone.

stop doing something for a while

Let's stop working for a while and have lunch.

stop doing something immediately

The doctor told him to stop drinking immediately.

Synonyms and how they differ

quit

Informal and common in American English for ending a habit or job; 'stop' is more neutral and works in all registers.

give up

A phrasal verb that also means to end a habit, often after effort; it sounds more like a decision, while 'stop' simply describes the ending.

cease

Formal and mostly used in writing or official contexts; 'stop' is the everyday choice.

Opposites

Word family

stop verb

to end movement or an action

stoppage noun

a situation in which work or play is stopped for a time

Commonly confused: to stop doing something or stop to do something?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “to stop doing something”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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