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Dictionary definition of halt

To stop or bring something to a complete cessation of movement or activity.
"The train screeched to a halt as the emergency brakes were applied."

Detailed meaning of halt

When we halt something, we interrupt its progress or put an end to its continuation. It implies a temporary or permanent suspension of action, whether it be physical, such as the halting of a vehicle or a person's movement, or metaphorical, like halting a project or a plan. Halt implies a decisive and deliberate act of ceasing or pausing, often with the intention of reassessing or evaluating the situation before proceeding further. It signifies a break in the flow or momentum and can be used in various contexts, ranging from halting a conversation, halting an ongoing process, halting an enemy's advance, or even halting one's own thoughts or emotions.

Example sentences of halt

1. The construction work came to a halt due to a shortage of building materials.
2. The teacher halted the noisy classroom by raising her hand for silence.
3. The hiker halted at the edge of the cliff, admiring the breathtaking view.
4. The police officer shouted, "Halt!" as the suspect attempted to flee.
5. The negotiations between the two countries were halted indefinitely.
6. The sudden downpour halted our plans for a picnic in the park.

History and etymology of halt

The verb 'halt' has its origins in Middle English, where it was spelled as 'halten' or 'halten.' It can be traced back to the Old High German word 'haltōn,' which meant 'to hold or grasp firmly.' In its earliest form, 'halt' was used not only to signify stopping or bringing something to a complete cessation of movement but also to convey the idea of holding something firmly in place. Over time, its meaning evolved to focus primarily on the act of stopping or coming to a standstill, reflecting its current usage in the English language.

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Further usage examples of halt

1. The CEO announced a halt in production to address quality control issues.
2. The marathon runner halted briefly to tie his shoelaces before continuing the race.
3. The speaker halted mid-sentence, searching for the right words to express her thoughts.
4. The research project was brought to a halt when the funding was unexpectedly withdrawn.
5. The traffic came to a halt as the traffic lights malfunctioned.
6. The sudden rainstorm forced us to halt our picnic plans.
7. The teacher had to halt the noisy chatter in the classroom.
8. Construction work will halt during the holiday season.
9. The red traffic light made us halt at the intersection.
10. A loud noise outside made her halt her conversation.
11. The company had to halt production due to a supply shortage.
12. The coach yelled, "Halt!" to stop the players in their tracks.
13. A technical glitch can temporarily halt online transactions.
14. The unexpected discovery prompted them to halt the excavation.
15. The pandemic forced many businesses to halt operations.
16. The protest aimed to halt the destruction of the forest.
17. The unexpected news made her halt in her tracks.
18. A malfunctioning sensor can halt the automated system.
19. The government may need to halt imports to protect local industries.
20. A flat tire on the highway can halt your journey.
21. We had to halt our hike due to bad weather.
22. The referee had to halt the game temporarily for an injury.
23. A power outage can halt productivity in the office.
24. The CEO decided to halt the project until further notice.
25. Fear can halt even the most daring adventures.