nonstop

American  

[non-stop, non-stop] / ˈnɒnˈstɒp, ˈnɒnˌstɒp /

adjective

1. being without a single stop en route.

   a nonstop bus; a nonstop flight from New York to Paris.

2. happening, done, or held without a stop or pause or without offering relief or respite.

   The ambassador faced a nonstop schedule of meetings and interviews during her visit.

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adverb

1. without a single stop en route.

2. Informal. without a pause or interruption or without respite; continually.

   My back ached nonstop for three days.

noun

1. a long-distance airline flight that makes no stops between the starting point and the destination.

nonstop British  

/ ˈnɒnˈstɒp /

adjective

1. done without pause or interruption

   a nonstop flight

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Etymology

Origin of nonstop

First recorded in 1900–05; non- + stop

Explanation

Things that are nonstop keep going all the time without pausing. A week of nonstop rain can cause flooding, and be pretty gloomy too. You can use the word nonstop as an adjective or adverb, and while it can literally mean "without stopping," it's also frequently used in an exaggerated way, to mean "a lot of the time." Your friend's description of a nonstop dance party or a nervous substitute teacher who giggles nonstop are examples of this. A nonstop plane flight, on the other hand, literally flies from one city to another without landing at another airport on the way.

Example Sentences

Nonstop buzzing fills a windowless Microsoft data centre near Jakarta, part of a tech construction boom sweeping Southeast Asia that promises economic opportunities but is also hungry for resources.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

In 2014 he was let go, only to rebuild his career with a World title-winning stint in the smaller Total Nonstop Action promotion.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2025

Nonstop fear over Singularity-esque robohuman consciousness often fails to take the very real physical limits of today’s A.I. into account—and, resultingly, its very real impact on the planet.

From Slate • Aug. 17, 2023

Nonstop commentary on cable television detailed every step along the way.

From Washington Post • Apr. 4, 2023

When to fly: Nonstop, morning flights are the most reliable.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 27, 2022

Related Words

• ceaseless
• constant
• endless
• incessant
• interminable
• relentless
• round-the-clock
• steady
• unbroken
• unending
• uninterrupted