halt

¹

[hawlt]

verb (used without object)

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

   They halted for lunch and strolled about.

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

[hawlt]

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.

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

/ hɔːlt /

verb

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

2. to waver or be unsure

3. archaic,  to be lame

adjective

1. archaic

   1. lame

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the halt

noun

1. archaic,  lameness

halt

²

/ 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

noun

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

verb

1. to come or bring to a halt

Other Word Forms

• haltless adjective

Word History and Origins

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of halt¹

Old English healt lame; related to Old Norse haltr, Old High German halz lame, Greek kólos maimed, Old Slavonic kladivo hammer

Origin of halt²

C17: from the phrase to make halt, translation of German halt machen, from halten to _hold ¹ , _stop

Idioms and Phrases

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

Synonym Study

See stop.

Example Sentences

"The crowd started to get really tight to the point everything had ground to a halt," she said.

Read more on BBC

Markets were boosted by the energy sector after OPEC’s decision to halt production increases for the first three months of 2026.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Schools and colleges are closed and public transport is halted.

Read more on BBC

Sheffield Hallam University staff in China were threatened by individuals described by them as being from China's National Security Service who demanded the research being done in Sheffield be halted.

Read more on BBC

He has refused talks with Democrats and hosted a Great Gatsby-themed Halloween party at his Florida resort the day before food aid for poor Americans was due to halt.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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