1
as in to stop
to bring (something) to a standstill
traffic was halted by the parade
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2
as in to cease
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end
the private eye abruptly halted his surveillance of the building upon being spotted by his subject
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3
as in to end
to come to an end
all filming halted when the star of the movie quit in a huff
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1
as in to limp
to walk while favoring one leg
even with her twisted ankle, she managed to halt along and complete her Walk for Peace
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2
as in to hesitate
to show uncertainty about the right course of action
she was often confused, halting between the responsibilities of her job and the demands of her home life
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1
as in standstill
a point in a struggle where neither side is capable of winning or willing to give in
negotiations are at a halt, with neither management nor the union budging on the issue of salary limits
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2
as in cessation
the stopping of a process or activity
gardening came to a halt during the week of solid rain
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as in paralyzed
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of halt
Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2025
For example, Trump tried to fire tens of thousands of probationary workers but a court ordered them rehired and an appeals court refused to halt that decision.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2025
All of this came to a halt when health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed sweeping layoffs to the Department of Health and Human Services this month.
—Will Stone, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025
Natnicha Chuwiruch, Bloomberg.com, 9 Oct. 2020
In addition to full-time jobs for recent graduates, many spring and summer internships came to a halt mid-program or were canceled before the summer began due to the pandemic.
—Kaitlin Edquist, chicagotribune.com, 4 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for halt
Verb
According to Curtis, this would have been the moment to halt the peace talks so the Taliban would understand how seriously America took attacks on its mission precisely at the time negotiations were underway.
—Bob Kustra, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2025
For example, Trump tried to fire tens of thousands of probationary workers but a court ordered them rehired and an appeals court refused to halt that decision.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Noun
Harvard's complaint against the Trump administration also claims the halt in federal funding will impede critical scientific and medical research as well as diminish economic innovation.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2025
All of this came to a halt when health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed sweeping layoffs to the Department of Health and Human Services this month.
—Will Stone, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Minor posted its biggest quarterly loss in the three months ended June and has cut thousands of jobs to stay afloat after the pandemic ground to a halt global travel and tourism.
—Natnicha Chuwiruch, Bloomberg.com, 9 Oct. 2020
In addition to full-time jobs for recent graduates, many spring and summer internships came to a halt mid-program or were canceled before the summer began due to the pandemic.
—Kaitlin Edquist, chicagotribune.com, 4 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for halt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for halt
Noun
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For more than an hour on Saturday, Maresca’s team did not allow Everton to fight them to a standstill and, helped greatly by the return of Romeo Lavia, passed forward quickly whenever a chance to do so presented itself.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images 🎧 Goods from China face tariffs of 145%, bringing trade between the world's two largest economies to a standstill, NPR's Scott Horsley tells Up First.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Most of these disruptions begin to normalize soon after alcohol cessation.—
Jesse Pines,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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More severe complications can include apnea (the sudden, temporary cessation of breathing), pneumonia, rib fractures from severe coughing, and even death.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That kind of volatility, which has rattled financial markets and paralyzed businesses, simply wasn’t present under any other administration in history.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Bustillo’s spinal cord was severed, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
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They can also be added to fruit salads, smoothies, or jams.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
2 May 2025
-
Have a Dance Party Clear the furniture, cue up a playlist with all of Mom's favorite hits (and a few silly, kid-friendly jams), and let loose.—
Laura Broadwell,
Parents,
1 May 2025
Noun
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Sadly, by the time the ending — easy, predictable, full of hope — rolls around, the story is already fading from memory.—
Gabino Iglesias,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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Weak Hero Class 2’s ending: Si-Eun’s master plan Ryeo Un as Park Hu-min, Lee Min-jae as Go Hyuntak Darae Lee/Netflix Weak Hero Class 2 builds to a massive showdown between the members of the Union and the Eunjang student body.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.—
Kevin Fisher-Paulson,
San Francisco Chronicle,
8 June 2021
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My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.—
Tim Neville,
Outside Online,
23 Nov. 2020
Noun
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The pair combined impeccably to break the deadlock last week, and the latter could make history by becoming the first Inter player to strike in five consecutive Champions League appearances.—
David Ferrini,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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The first of Rice’s heroic efforts came in the 58th minute, with the 26-year-old breaking the deadlock with a shot that whipped around the Real Madrid wall into the corner of the net.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Jopling is a hitman with skull rings and a sadistic streak who does all sorts of dirty work, including engaging in some light decapitation and throwing a cat out the window before meeting an amusing end off a snowy cliff.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2025
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King had also recently led the 1963 Birmingham campaign prompting the end of legalized racial segregation in the Alabama city, and eventually throughout the nation.—
Michael Casey,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Halt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/halt. Accessed 8 May. 2025.
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