halt

¹ American  

[hawlt] / hɔlt /

verb (used without object)

1. to stop; cease moving, operating, etc., either permanently or temporarily.

   They halted for lunch and strolled about.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause to stop temporarily or permanently; bring to a stop.

   They halted operations during contract negotiations.

noun

1. a temporary or permanent stop.

   Synonyms:

   stoppage, stoppage, stop, stop, standstill, suspension, suspension, cessation

interjection

1. (used as a command to stop and stand motionless, as to marching troops or to a fleeing suspect.)

halt ² American  

[hawlt] / hɔlt /

verb (used without object)

1. to falter, as in speech, reasoning, etc.; be hesitant; stumble.

2. to be in doubt; waver between alternatives; vacillate.

3. Archaic. to be lame; walk lamely; limp.

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adjective

1. Archaic. lame; limping.

noun

1. Archaic. lameness; a limp.

2. (used with a plural verb) lame people, especially severely lamed ones (usually preceded bythe ).

   the halt and the blind.

halt ¹ British  

/ hɔːlt /

verb

1. (esp of logic or verse) to falter or be defective

2. to waver or be unsure

3. archaic to be lame

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adjective

1. archaic

   1. lame

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the halt

noun

1. archaic lameness

halt ² British  

/ hɔːlt /

noun

1. an interruption or end to activity, movement, or progress

2. a minor railway station, without permanent buildings

3. to put an end (to something); stop

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noun

1. a command to halt, esp as an order when marching

verb

1. to come or bring to a halt

halt Idioms  

1. see call a halt; come to a halt; grind to a halt.

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Related Words

See stop.

Other Word Forms

• haltless adjective

Etymology

Origin of halt¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from the phrase make halt for German halt machen; hold ¹

Origin of halt²

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English healt; cognate with Old High German halz, Old Norse haltr, Gothic halts, akin to Latin clādēs “damage, loss”

Example Sentences

China’s own export-led recovery screeches to a halt if importing nations are in recession or depression thanks to the Hormuz shutdown.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

As China hit back with tariffs of its own, the tit-for-tat exchange sent tariff rates spiralling into the triple digits and for a few weeks brought trade between the two giants to a screeching halt.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

On Tuesday, a federal judge ordered a halt to construction, saying Trump needed congressional approval.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Pope Leo XIV said he hoped US President Donald Trump was looking to end the war in the Middle East and called for a halt to the violence.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

As I passed the wreck, as the girl stared helplessly at me, Black Star veered off the trail and brought us to a halt against a snowbank.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell

Related Words

• adjourn
• arrest
• bar
• block
• break off
• cease
• curb
• deter
• end
• hamper
• impede
• interrupt
• stall
• stem
• stop
• suspend
• terminate