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
The standstill is not just one day, but a period of about two years when the moon rises and sets at more northerly and southerly spots along the horizon than normal.
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Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 June 2024
The prosecution filing Wednesday nodded to remote hope among those close to Willis and the district attorney’s office that the appellate court could simply reject the appeal outright — potentially getting the proceedings, which have been at a standstill for months, back on track.
—Holly Bailey, Washington Post, 13 June 2024
Image For more than two decades, Ms. Duvall’s career was at a standstill.
—Saskia Solomon, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
On Tuesday, a torrential downpour brought 5.59 inches of rainfall and brought the city to a standstill.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for standstill 
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 June 2024
The prosecution filing Wednesday nodded to remote hope among those close to Willis and the district attorney’s office that the appellate court could simply reject the appeal outright — potentially getting the proceedings, which have been at a standstill for months, back on track.
—Holly Bailey, Washington Post, 13 June 2024
Image For more than two decades, Ms. Duvall’s career was at a standstill.
—Saskia Solomon, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
On Tuesday, a torrential downpour brought 5.59 inches of rainfall and brought the city to a standstill.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for standstill
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.
Dictionary Entries Near standstill
Cite this Entry
“Standstill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standstill. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
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Medical Definition
standstill
noun
stand·still
ˈstand-ˌstil
: a state characterized by absence of motion or of progress : arrest
cardiac standstill
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