megállították

Megállították is a Hungarian verb form meaning “they stopped” or, depending on context, “they detained” or “they halted” something. It is the past tense, third-person plural, definite conjugation of the verb megállít, a compound verb formed with the prefix meg- and the root állít. In Hungarian, the prefix meg- often marks a completed or started-stopping action, and megállít conveys bringing something to a stop.

Grammatical notes: Megállították occurs when the subject is plural and the direct object is definite. The form can take different objects, for example megállították a járművet (“they stopped/detained the vehicle”) or megállították a gyanúsítottat (“they stopped/detained the suspect”). The infinitive of the verb is megállítani. Other past tense forms include megállítottam (I stopped), megállítottad (you stopped), megállítottuk (we stopped), with variations depending on person and definiteness.

Usage and nuance: The phrase is used in physical contexts—traffic stops, detentions by authorities—as well as in more figurative senses of halting an action or process. In news reporting, law enforcement, or legal narratives, megállították clearly indicates that a stop or detention has occurred by a plural subject. The exact meaning often depends on the accompanying object and broader context.

Related forms and terms: Megállítás (the act of stopping), megállító (stopping device or person who stops), and the related verb megállítani (to stop, to halt, to detain). The word is a common part of everyday speech, law enforcement discourse, and media coverage in Hungarian.