What does unstoppable mean?
Unstoppable describes a person, thing, force, movement, or development that cannot be stopped or restrained. The word is especially common when describing a physical advance or an irreversible change: a runner with unstoppable momentum, a rising trend with unstoppable force, or an argument that seems unstoppable. It can also characterize an exceptionally determined person who refuses to be deterred. In many contexts the expression is hyperbolic, intensifying a description rather than making a precise claim about impossibility. For example, a successful sales campaign may be called unstoppable even though it could, in principle, be interrupted. The adjective is standard in both British and American English. The related noun use, as in “an unstoppable,” is informal and usually refers to a formidable person or performer.
Unable to be stopped, prevented, or restrained from continuing.
"The advancing army seemed unstoppable as it crossed the open ground."
Frequently used figuratively and sometimes as an emphatic or hyperbolic description.
A person or thing that cannot be stopped or controlled.
"The young striker quickly became one of the league's great unstoppables."
This noun use is informal and is much less common than the adjectival use.
The noun use is informal and uncommon; singular usage is generally more typical.
"The team relied on two unstoppables throughout the championship."
The prefix does all the work: un- means “not,” stop is the action, and -able makes it a description of what cannot be stopped.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unstoppable come from?
Unstoppable was formed in the late 19th century by combining the negative prefix un- with stop and the suffix -able, literally giving the sense “not able to be stopped.” Its base verb stop comes from Old English stoppian, meaning “to stop” or “obstruct,” and is ultimately related to Latin stopa, a word for straw or a material used to block something. The modern form follows the productive English pattern un- plus a verb plus -able, paralleling older formations such as stoppable.
Related word forms
How unstoppable is actually used
As an adjective, “unstoppable” is common in formal and informal writing and can be literal, figurative, or deliberately hyperbolic. Its noun use is informal and comparatively uncommon.
Easily confused with unstoppable
An unstoppable person or force cannot be halted, whereas an unbreakable object or material cannot be broken.