stop
verb (used with object)
to cease from, leave off, or discontinue.
were stopping
-
past progressiveof stop.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Executives said then that the chain’s most loyal customers were stopping by stores less frequently.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 4, 2026
In the 1980s, working-class people of color were stopping big public projects that they said would have brought crime and pollution to neighborhoods already overburdened.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026
Another witness, who did not give her name, said hospital security "were not letting them out and the guards were stopping them".
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
“Washington’s clearest nonproliferation wins against Iran in the war were stopping all uranium enrichment at declared facilities and entombing enriched uranium stockpiles,” said Behnam Ben Taleblu, of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
Their van stood in the middle of the street, and they were stopping passersby and demanding passes.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
