stint

A period of time spent doing a particular job or activity, or staying somewhere.

• She did a short stint abroad.
• He returned after a stint in prison.
• My stint as a waiter lasted six months.

How to use it: a stint as someone (She did a stint as a tour guide.); a stint in something (He served a short stint in the army.); a stint at something (A stint at the local newspaper taught her a lot.)

Similar words: spell, period, stretch

Common phrases: a short stint, stint as something, stint in prison

To provide or use too little of something, often because you want to save money.

• Do not stint on food.
• They never stinted on their guests’ comfort.
• We saved money without stinting on quality.

How to use it: stint on something (Do not stint on fresh ingredients.)

Similar words: skimp, scrimp

Common phrases: stint on something, never stint, stint on quality

To stop something or bring it to an end.

• She could not stint her tears.
• No kind words could stint his weeping.
• They tried to stint the quarrel before it grew worse.

Similar words: stop, halt, end

Opposites: start

Common phrases: stint the tears, stint the quarrel