In its most common form, “stop” is a verb that means to end or interrupt an action, movement, or event. It describes the act of ceasing something that was previously happening. Example (verb): Please stop talking during the test. Example (noun): The bus made a brief stop near the school. The act of something that stops; a halt. Then one day a big stopping came out of one of my back teeth. (mining) A partition or door to direct or prevent a current of air. The drawing poultices and stoppings of farriers are often highly injurious, instead of abating inflammation. It can vary what time it starts, but once it starts, there's no stopping it. It comes in the form of stopping that game winner. We worked for 60-plus hours without stopping. An examination of cases raises questions about whether the agency is stopping threats or staging them. When a moving person or vehicle stops or is stopped, they no longer move and they remain in the same place. The car failed to stop at an army checkpoint. He stopped and let her catch up with him. If something that is moving comes to a stop or is brought to a stop, it slows down and no longer moves. The correct spelling for everyday use is stopping, which follows the standard English rule of doubling the final consonant before adding -ing. This rule applies to short verbs that end with consonant + vowel + consonant, such as run, sit, and stop. Correct spelling, explanation: this form, stopping, with consonant p doubled, is the correct one because the word stop ends with a combination of letters: consonant-vowel-consonant. According to the rule, such a combination means that the last consonant is doubled when we add any suffix to a word. Arrest usually refers to stopping by imposing a sudden and complete restraint: to arrest development. Check implies bringing about an abrupt, partial, or temporary stop: to check a trotting horse. stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness. cease applies to states, conditions, or existence and may add a suggestion of gradualness and a degree of finality. quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing. To put an end to what one is doing; cease: had to stop at an exciting place in the book. Stopping is the present participle of the verb stop, meaning the act of ceasing, halting, or bringing something to an end. This form is used when describing an ongoing action or state.