non-stop

non-stop — adjective

1. continuing for a long time without any pause or break; happening all the time wi

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

continuing for a long time without any pause or break; happening all the time with no interruption.

Example

The airline offers a non-stop flight from London to Singapore every morning.

non-stop flight — travel without intermediate stops

After three days of non-stop rain, the streets near Tuan's house were completely flooded.

Common collocations
  • non-stop flight
  • non-stop rain
  • non-stop music
  • non-stop service
  • non-stop laughter
  • non-stop chatter
Synonyms
  • continuous

    more neutral and technical; describes unbroken sequence without strong emphasis on duration

  • constant

    emphasises that something happens all the time, often in a steady or unchanging way

  • uninterrupted

    slightly more formal; stresses that nothing came between the start and the end

  • relentless

    negative connotation; suggests something unpleasant continues without letting up

Antonyms
  • intermittent

    happening at irregular intervals rather than continuously

  • occasional

    happening from time to time, not all the time

Grammar Patterns

non-stop + noun

be + non-stop

Usage Note

Usually placed before a noun (attributive position), but also works in the predicate: 'The music at the party was non-stop.' In American English the spelling 'nonstop' (one word, no hyphen) is also common.

Common Mistakes

The show was non-stopped for three hours.
The show was non-stop for three hours.
'non-stop' is the adjective form; do not add -ed.
a non-stopping bus service
a non-stop bus service
'non-stop' is the standard form; 'non-stopping' is not used.

Word family

  • stop
    verbA1
  • stop
    nounA2
  • stoppage
    nounC1
  • unstoppable
    adjectiveB2
  • stopover
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that happens without a break, but they differ in tone and emphasis. 'Non-stop' is the most direct and common choice; it is used for travel (a non-stop flight), weather (non-stop rain), or any activity that continues without pausing. 'Continuous' is more neutral and technical — a continuous line, continuous improvement — and does not carry the same sense of 'tiring' that 'non-stop' sometimes has. 'Constant' focuses on steadiness: a constant temperature, constant attention. 'Uninterrupted' is slightly more formal and stresses that nothing came between the start and the end: an uninterrupted view, uninterrupted sleep. 'Relentless' adds a negative emotional layer: relentless pressure, relentless criticism suggests something harsh that will not stop. For everyday use, 'a non-stop party' sounds lively; 'a relentless party' sounds exhausting.

continuous ↗constant ↗uninterrupted ↗relentless ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish (compound)

Formed by combining the prefix 'non-' (meaning 'not') with the verb 'stop', which comes from Old English 'stoppian' (to block up). The compound first appeared in the early 20th century, originally used in aviation to describe flights that made no intermediate landings. By the 1950s it had broadened to describe anything that continued without interruption.