pit stop
Americannoun
-
Auto Racing. a stop in the pits during a race, in which a competing car receives gasoline, a change of tires, or other servicing or repair.
-
Informal. any brief stop, as during a ride or trip in an automobile, so that one may get refreshments, use a restroom, etc.
-
a place where one makes such stops.
noun
-
motor racing a brief stop made at a pit by a racing car for repairs, refuelling, etc
-
informal any stop made during a car journey for refreshment, rest, or refuelling
Etymology
Origin of pit stop
First recorded in 1930–35
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Here’s what the space agency expects to do before embarking on an ambitious lunar pit stop to Mars.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026
We made a quick pit stop at a bakery in the village of Valencia de las Torres and then continued on, as a dense fog formed around us.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 30, 2026
It’s a quick pit stop before coming home after work.
From Salon ● May 30, 2026
Olly Murs made a pit stop in Warwickshire on day three of his five-day endurance challenge to raise money for charity.
From BBC ● May 14, 2026
We talk through our visit to the gas station several times; it needs to be as well-executed as a stock car pit stop.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.