To halt means to stop moving or to bring something to a complete stop. When a crossing guard holds up a stop sign, traffic halts at the intersection. When a teacher says “Halt!” during a fire drill, students freeze in place immediately.

The word suggests a sudden or definite stop rather than a gradual slowing down. A car that comes to a halt stops firmly and completely. A construction project might grind to a halt when workers run out of materials, meaning all progress stops entirely.

You can halt something yourself, or something can halt on its own. A hiker might halt at the edge of a cliff to look at the view. A principal might halt a pep rally that's getting too rowdy. A conversation halts when someone says something shocking and everyone goes silent.

The word often appears in commands: “Halt! Who goes there?” was traditionally shouted by guards who wanted strangers to stop and identify themselves. Today you're more likely to hear “Stop!” in everyday situations, but halt carries a sense of authority and seriousness. When something comes to a halt, it has stopped completely, at least for now.