standstill

noun

stand·​still ˈstan(d)-ˌstil 

: a state characterized by absence of motion or of progress : stop

brought traffic to a standstill

Synonyms of standstill

• halt

Examples of standstill in a Sentence

The accident brought traffic to a standstill.

battled each other to a standstill

Recent Examples on the Web

Officials tread carefully in regulating car caravans, which can overwhelm traffic and bring streets to a standstill. — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026

Sports comes to a standstill after terrorism in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania, with major league baseball postponing a full schedule of regular-season games for the first time since D-Day in 1944. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

As the country came to a standstill, all filming at the studio was canceled. — Dan Heching, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Ramjets, for example, do not operate efficiently from a standstill. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing standstill

• crawl to a stop/standstill

Rhymes for standstill

• anthill
• backfill
• bluegill
• crossbill
• distil
• distill
• downhill
• dunghill
• foothill
• fulfil
• fulfill
• goodwill

Kids Definition

standstill

noun

stand·​still -ˌstil 

: a state marked by absence of motion or activity : stop

traffic was at a standstill

Medical Definition

standstill

noun

stand·​still ˈstand-ˌstil 

: a state characterized by absence of motion or of progress : arrest

cardiac standstill