pit stop

noun

1

: a stop at the pits during an automobile race

2

a(1)

: a stop (as during a trip) for fuel, food, or rest or for use of a restroom

(2)

: a temporary deviation from a direct or usual course

a career pit stop … where he worked temporarily in between TV jobs

—Mark Lorando

b(1)

: a place where a pit stop is or can be made

(2)

: an establishment providing food or drink

Examples of pit stop in a Sentence

We made a pit stop for some food before getting back on the highway.

This little town is an ideal pit stop between the two cities.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ralph’s Coffee is also a stylish pre-flight pit stop, with the usual coffee and sweet snack offering as well as packs of take-home roasted beans. —Rachel Morris, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Dec. 2024

But on to the journey: My wife and I headed out from Berkeley and drove 160 miles to Harris Ranch, the popular I-5 pit stop near Coalinga. —Russ Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024

Verstappen kept the leaders in sight with a 10-second gap ahead of the first pit stop. —Rob Reed, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Ouray is full of hot-spring pit stops, Ridgway has great food, and Last Dollar Road is an adventure in and of itself. —Outside Online, 20 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pit stop

noun

1

: a stop at the pits during an automobile race

2

a

: a stop (as during a trip) for fuel, food, or rest or for use of a restroom

b

: a place where a pit stop is or can be made