Word for “abrupt stopâ€
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I'm trying to write the following sentence without the adverb "abruptly"
They were walking to the main office, but stopped abruptly when they saw her.
"halted" seems kind of clunky, I'm hoping there's a better word I'm overlooking..
Edit: I forgot to mention, I'd prefer a verb, but if there's a better way to write this, I'm not picky about how.
single-word-requests
asked Aug 23 at 17:00
Zaya
1795
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up vote
6
down vote
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I'm trying to write the following sentence without the adverb "abruptly"
They were walking to the main office, but stopped abruptly when they saw her.
"halted" seems kind of clunky, I'm hoping there's a better word I'm overlooking..
Edit: I forgot to mention, I'd prefer a verb, but if there's a better way to write this, I'm not picky about how.
single-word-requests
asked Aug 23 at 17:00
Zaya
1795
I think we might be able to provide a better word given more context. Why did they stop abruptly?
– ForgetfulFellow
Aug 23 at 17:23
@ForgetfulFellow Good point. There are positive or negative connotations associated with how someone comes to a stop.
– Our_Benefactors
Aug 24 at 14:45
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
I'm trying to write the following sentence without the adverb "abruptly"
They were walking to the main office, but stopped abruptly when they saw her.
"halted" seems kind of clunky, I'm hoping there's a better word I'm overlooking..
Edit: I forgot to mention, I'd prefer a verb, but if there's a better way to write this, I'm not picky about how.
single-word-requests
asked Aug 23 at 17:00
Zaya
1795
I'm trying to write the following sentence without the adverb "abruptly"
They were walking to the main office, but stopped abruptly when they saw her.
"halted" seems kind of clunky, I'm hoping there's a better word I'm overlooking..
Edit: I forgot to mention, I'd prefer a verb, but if there's a better way to write this, I'm not picky about how.
single-word-requests
single-word-requests
asked Aug 23 at 17:00
Zaya
1795
asked Aug 23 at 17:00
Zaya
1795
asked Aug 23 at 17:00
Zaya
1795
asked Aug 23 at 17:00
Zaya
1795
asked Aug 23 at 17:00
Zaya
1795
1795
I think we might be able to provide a better word given more context. Why did they stop abruptly?
– ForgetfulFellow
Aug 23 at 17:23
@ForgetfulFellow Good point. There are positive or negative connotations associated with how someone comes to a stop.
– Our_Benefactors
Aug 24 at 14:45
add a comment |Â
I think we might be able to provide a better word given more context. Why did they stop abruptly?
– ForgetfulFellow
Aug 23 at 17:23
@ForgetfulFellow Good point. There are positive or negative connotations associated with how someone comes to a stop.
– Our_Benefactors
Aug 24 at 14:45
I think we might be able to provide a better word given more context. Why did they stop abruptly?
– ForgetfulFellow
Aug 23 at 17:23
I think we might be able to provide a better word given more context. Why did they stop abruptly?
– ForgetfulFellow
Aug 23 at 17:23
@ForgetfulFellow Good point. There are positive or negative connotations associated with how someone comes to a stop.
– Our_Benefactors
Aug 24 at 14:45
@ForgetfulFellow Good point. There are positive or negative connotations associated with how someone comes to a stop.
– Our_Benefactors
Aug 24 at 14:45
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
22
down vote
accepted
Perhaps they froze? From the Oxford Living Dictionaries:
freeze
VERB
[no object] Become suddenly motionless or paralysed with fear or shock.
‘she froze in horror’
3.1 Stop moving when ordered.
‘she came out with a revolver and told the boys to freeze’
So your sentence would be:
They were walking to the main office, but froze when they saw her.
answered Aug 23 at 17:18
Roger Sinasohn
8,42211844
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up vote
13
down vote
I'd use "stopped short" in this case.
Definition from Macmillan Dictionary:
to suddenly stop what you are doing or saying
I started to explain but stopped short when I realized Adam was in the room.
Or "stopped dead":
to stop moving very unexpectedly
So, in your example, that would be:
They were walking to the main office, but stopped dead when they saw her.
...which, to me, would indicate that they were surprised to see her there, which seems to be what you're looking for.
answered Aug 23 at 17:17
Violet Parr
1,1891721
Another option in a similar vein would be "stopped mid-stride" or "stopped in their tracks"
– Our_Benefactors
Aug 24 at 14:45
"drew up short" is also similar
– Timbo
Aug 24 at 19:57
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Two options for adverbs are "stopped immediately" or "immediately stopped"
answered Aug 24 at 14:47
Our_Benefactors
1413
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
22
down vote
accepted
Perhaps they froze? From the Oxford Living Dictionaries:
freeze
VERB
[no object] Become suddenly motionless or paralysed with fear or shock.
‘she froze in horror’
3.1 Stop moving when ordered.
‘she came out with a revolver and told the boys to freeze’
So your sentence would be:
They were walking to the main office, but froze when they saw her.
answered Aug 23 at 17:18
Roger Sinasohn
8,42211844
add a comment |Â
up vote
22
down vote
accepted
Perhaps they froze? From the Oxford Living Dictionaries:
freeze
VERB
[no object] Become suddenly motionless or paralysed with fear or shock.
‘she froze in horror’
3.1 Stop moving when ordered.
‘she came out with a revolver and told the boys to freeze’
So your sentence would be:
They were walking to the main office, but froze when they saw her.
answered Aug 23 at 17:18
Roger Sinasohn
8,42211844
add a comment |Â
up vote
22
down vote
accepted
up vote
22
down vote
accepted
Perhaps they froze? From the Oxford Living Dictionaries:
freeze
VERB
[no object] Become suddenly motionless or paralysed with fear or shock.
‘she froze in horror’
3.1 Stop moving when ordered.
‘she came out with a revolver and told the boys to freeze’
So your sentence would be:
They were walking to the main office, but froze when they saw her.
answered Aug 23 at 17:18
Roger Sinasohn
8,42211844
Perhaps they froze? From the Oxford Living Dictionaries:
freeze
VERB
[no object] Become suddenly motionless or paralysed with fear or shock.
‘she froze in horror’
3.1 Stop moving when ordered.
‘she came out with a revolver and told the boys to freeze’
So your sentence would be:
They were walking to the main office, but froze when they saw her.
answered Aug 23 at 17:18
Roger Sinasohn
8,42211844
answered Aug 23 at 17:18
Roger Sinasohn
8,42211844
answered Aug 23 at 17:18
Roger Sinasohn
8,42211844
answered Aug 23 at 17:18
Roger Sinasohn
8,42211844
8,42211844
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
13
down vote
I'd use "stopped short" in this case.
Definition from Macmillan Dictionary:
to suddenly stop what you are doing or saying
I started to explain but stopped short when I realized Adam was in the room.
Or "stopped dead":
to stop moving very unexpectedly
So, in your example, that would be:
They were walking to the main office, but stopped dead when they saw her.
...which, to me, would indicate that they were surprised to see her there, which seems to be what you're looking for.
answered Aug 23 at 17:17
Violet Parr
1,1891721
Another option in a similar vein would be "stopped mid-stride" or "stopped in their tracks"
– Our_Benefactors
Aug 24 at 14:45
"drew up short" is also similar
– Timbo
Aug 24 at 19:57
add a comment |Â
up vote
13
down vote
I'd use "stopped short" in this case.
Definition from Macmillan Dictionary:
to suddenly stop what you are doing or saying
I started to explain but stopped short when I realized Adam was in the room.
Or "stopped dead":
to stop moving very unexpectedly
So, in your example, that would be:
They were walking to the main office, but stopped dead when they saw her.
...which, to me, would indicate that they were surprised to see her there, which seems to be what you're looking for.
answered Aug 23 at 17:17
Violet Parr
1,1891721
Another option in a similar vein would be "stopped mid-stride" or "stopped in their tracks"
– Our_Benefactors
Aug 24 at 14:45
"drew up short" is also similar
– Timbo
Aug 24 at 19:57
add a comment |Â
up vote
13
down vote
up vote
13
down vote
I'd use "stopped short" in this case.
Definition from Macmillan Dictionary:
to suddenly stop what you are doing or saying
I started to explain but stopped short when I realized Adam was in the room.
Or "stopped dead":
to stop moving very unexpectedly
So, in your example, that would be:
They were walking to the main office, but stopped dead when they saw her.
...which, to me, would indicate that they were surprised to see her there, which seems to be what you're looking for.
answered Aug 23 at 17:17
Violet Parr
1,1891721
I'd use "stopped short" in this case.
Definition from Macmillan Dictionary:
to suddenly stop what you are doing or saying
I started to explain but stopped short when I realized Adam was in the room.
Or "stopped dead":
to stop moving very unexpectedly
So, in your example, that would be:
They were walking to the main office, but stopped dead when they saw her.
...which, to me, would indicate that they were surprised to see her there, which seems to be what you're looking for.
answered Aug 23 at 17:17
Violet Parr
1,1891721
answered Aug 23 at 17:17
Violet Parr
1,1891721
answered Aug 23 at 17:17
Violet Parr
1,1891721
answered Aug 23 at 17:17
Violet Parr
1,1891721
1,1891721
Another option in a similar vein would be "stopped mid-stride" or "stopped in their tracks"
– Our_Benefactors
Aug 24 at 14:45
"drew up short" is also similar
– Timbo
Aug 24 at 19:57
add a comment |Â
Another option in a similar vein would be "stopped mid-stride" or "stopped in their tracks"
– Our_Benefactors
Aug 24 at 14:45
"drew up short" is also similar
– Timbo
Aug 24 at 19:57
Another option in a similar vein would be "stopped mid-stride" or "stopped in their tracks"
– Our_Benefactors
Aug 24 at 14:45
Another option in a similar vein would be "stopped mid-stride" or "stopped in their tracks"
– Our_Benefactors
Aug 24 at 14:45
"drew up short" is also similar
– Timbo
Aug 24 at 19:57
"drew up short" is also similar
– Timbo
Aug 24 at 19:57
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Two options for adverbs are "stopped immediately" or "immediately stopped"
answered Aug 24 at 14:47
Our_Benefactors
1413
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Two options for adverbs are "stopped immediately" or "immediately stopped"
answered Aug 24 at 14:47
Our_Benefactors
1413
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Two options for adverbs are "stopped immediately" or "immediately stopped"
answered Aug 24 at 14:47
Our_Benefactors
1413
Two options for adverbs are "stopped immediately" or "immediately stopped"
answered Aug 24 at 14:47
Our_Benefactors
1413
answered Aug 24 at 14:47
Our_Benefactors
1413
answered Aug 24 at 14:47
Our_Benefactors
1413
answered Aug 24 at 14:47
Our_Benefactors
1413
1413
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
We're looking for long answers that provide some explanation and context. Don't just give a one-line answer; explain why your answer is right, ideally with citations. Answers that don't include explanations may be removed.
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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I think we might be able to provide a better word given more context. Why did they stop abruptly?
– ForgetfulFellow
Aug 23 at 17:23
@ForgetfulFellow Good point. There are positive or negative connotations associated with how someone comes to a stop.
– Our_Benefactors
Aug 24 at 14:45