stagnate

verb

stag·​nate ˈstag-ˌnāt How to pronounce stagnate (audio)
stagnated; stagnating

intransitive verb

: to become or remain stagnant

Examples of stagnate in a Sentence

a puddle of stagnating water
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the 1960s and 1970s, and the 2020s, inflation surged, wages stagnated, and the financial foothold of the middle class, once aspirational, became uncertain. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025 Line chart of Manchester United's net transfer debt as a proportion of annual revenue, where the proportion in recent years has been much higher, reflecting continued heavy spending while revenues have stagnated. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 May 2025 Wages have stagnated while housing, child care and food costs have climbed. Editorial, Boston Herald, 12 May 2025 The case stagnated for years until the breakthrough in August 2024. Bethany Brown, People.com, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for stagnate

Word History

Etymology

Latin stagnatus, past participle of stagnare, from stagnum body of standing water

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stagnate was in 1661

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stagnate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stagnate. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

stagnate

verb
stag·​nate ˈstag-ˌnāt How to pronounce stagnate (audio)
stagnated; stagnating
: to be or become stagnant
stagnation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on stagnate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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