standstill
noun
stand·still
ˈstan(d)-ˌstil 
: a state characterized by absence of motion or of progress : stop
brought traffic to a standstill
Synonyms
Examples of standstill in a Sentence
The accident brought traffic to a standstill.
battled each other to a standstill
Recent Examples on the Web
Roberson said the only other time she’s tried her hand at investing was back in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when the cruise industry was at a standstill.
—
Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Marine traffic around the Port of Baltimore is at a standstill after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed Tuesday, an accident that is expected to disrupt shipping and supply chains.
—Jackie Northam, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024
Sixty-five miles apart, the planes remained at a standstill.
—Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024
Shortly before the ceremony was set to begin at 4 p.m., dozens of black vans carrying attendees stood at a standstill on Highland Avenue.
—Ashley Ahn, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024
For six months last year, those signs were constant and ubiquitous, as furious, sometimes violent marches and general strikes protesting President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reforms brought Paris to a standstill.
—Elisabeth Zerofsky, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024
Striking workers have brought railways and airports to a standstill.
—Erika Solomon, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
His election ended a chaotic three-week span that brought legislative business in the House to a standstill and left the GOP conference bruised.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2024
But those efforts came as the conference has struggled with deep divisions that has at times brought the House to a standstill.
—Ken Tran, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024
Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Marine traffic around the Port of Baltimore is at a standstill after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed Tuesday, an accident that is expected to disrupt shipping and supply chains.
—Jackie Northam, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024
Sixty-five miles apart, the planes remained at a standstill.
—Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2024
Shortly before the ceremony was set to begin at 4 p.m., dozens of black vans carrying attendees stood at a standstill on Highland Avenue.
—Ashley Ahn, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024
For six months last year, those signs were constant and ubiquitous, as furious, sometimes violent marches and general strikes protesting President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reforms brought Paris to a standstill.
—Elisabeth Zerofsky, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024
Striking workers have brought railways and airports to a standstill.
—Erika Solomon, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
His election ended a chaotic three-week span that brought legislative business in the House to a standstill and left the GOP conference bruised.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2024
But those efforts came as the conference has struggled with deep divisions that has at times brought the House to a standstill.
—Ken Tran, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'standstill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1702, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing standstill
Dictionary Entries Near standstill
Cite this Entry
“Standstill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standstill. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
Medical Definition
standstill
noun
stand·still
ˈstand-ˌstil
: a state characterized by absence of motion or of progress : arrest
cardiac standstill
More from Merriam-Webster on standstill
Nglish: Translation of standstill for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of standstill for Arabic Speakers
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