What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
discontinue
Example
The company decided to discontinue the production of that model due to low sales. [discontinue: verb]
Example
I need to discontinue my bad habit of biting my nails. [discontinue: verb]
Example
They agreed to discontinue their partnership after several disagreements. [discontinue: verb]
stop
Example
Please stop talking during the movie. [stop: verb]
Example
The rain stopped just in time for the outdoor concert. [stopped: past tense]
Example
I need to stop procrastinating and start studying for my exam. [stop: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stop is more commonly used than discontinue in everyday language. Stop is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while discontinue is less common and typically used in specific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between discontinue and stop?
Discontinue is more formal than stop. It is often used in business or legal contexts to describe the end of a product, service, or agreement. On the other hand, stop can be used in both formal and informal contexts.