standstill
noun
stand·still
ˈstan(d)-ˌstil 
: a state characterized by absence of motion or of progress : stop
brought traffic to a standstill
Examples of standstill in a Sentence
The accident brought traffic to a standstill.
battled each other to a standstill
Recent Examples on the Web
This system can levitate even at a standstill.
—
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
With other pieces of the NBA free agency puzzle, like Al Horford, still waiting to see where Kuminga lands, the standstill in the Bay Area marches on.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Hialeah’s government is at a standstill after a bitter political deadlock over the city’s budget paralyzed the city council, exposing deep fractures in the leadership.
—Veronica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
One reason the stock has lagged its peers over the past few months could be related to spin purgatory — the idea that breakup stories are stuck in a standstill until investors become more interested closer to the completion date.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standstill
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.
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
With other pieces of the NBA free agency puzzle, like Al Horford, still waiting to see where Kuminga lands, the standstill in the Bay Area marches on.
—Gabe Smallson, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Hialeah’s government is at a standstill after a bitter political deadlock over the city’s budget paralyzed the city council, exposing deep fractures in the leadership.
—Veronica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 12 Sep. 2025
One reason the stock has lagged its peers over the past few months could be related to spin purgatory — the idea that breakup stories are stuck in a standstill until investors become more interested closer to the completion date.
—Jeff Marks, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for standstill
Cite this Entry
“Standstill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standstill. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
standstill
noun
stand·still
ˈstand-ˌstil
: a state characterized by absence of motion or of progress : arrest
cardiac standstill
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share