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

That is because the fifth (non-interim) Owls’ head coach the past decade is not of the recycled variety making a pit stop to revitalize a career. —Tom Layberger, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024

This included a pit stop at the base for a mid-run mop clean that lasted four minutes. —PCMAG, 6 Dec. 2024

What to know about Charles Kushner, Steve Bannon, other top allies Biden arrives in Angola in first trip as president to Africa A politics pit stop What are the BRIC nations? —Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2024

In this election cycle, Austin emerged as a presidential pit stop. —Asher Price, Axios, 4 Nov. 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