1 A2 neutral
To make a brief stop at a place while travelling to a final destination.
"We stopped off at a roadside diner for lunch on our drive to the coast."
inseparable
stop off
A2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To make a brief stop at a place during a longer journey.
In plain English
To pause on your way somewhere to visit a place for a short time.
What does "stop off" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To stop and leave the main route.
Actually means
To pause on your way somewhere to visit a place for a short time.
Usage tip
Very common in British and American English. Often followed by 'at': 'stop off at a café.' Implies the visit is a short detour from the main journey. 'Stopover' is the related noun.
Words that pair with "stop off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
café petrol station friend's house supermarket on the way briefly
How to conjugate "stop off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
stop off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
stops off
he/she/it
Past simple
stoped off
yesterday
Past participle
stoped off
have + pp
-ing form
stoping off
continuous
Hear "stop off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "stop off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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