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
Cruz wanted to bring Congress to a standstill by engineering a government shutdown in a bid to defund Obamacare, aka the Affordable Care Act.
—
David M. Drucker, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2025
The dueling events brought the industry to a standstill and had far-reaching ripple effects for a variety of projects, including Weapons.
—EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
This year, with humanitarian distress higher, the country has received just 6.7 percent of an already bare-bones UN appeal for $612 million, with American aid practically at a standstill.
—Mulugeta Gebrehiwot Berhe, Foreign Affairs, 5 Aug. 2025
Republican infighting over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files is causing delays in the House of Representatives, putting key votes at a standstill as the Rules Committee is on track to cancel a meeting meant to set the agenda for the week.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for standstill
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David M. Drucker, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2025
The dueling events brought the industry to a standstill and had far-reaching ripple effects for a variety of projects, including Weapons.
—EW.com, 5 Aug. 2025
This year, with humanitarian distress higher, the country has received just 6.7 percent of an already bare-bones UN appeal for $612 million, with American aid practically at a standstill.
—Mulugeta Gebrehiwot Berhe, Foreign Affairs, 5 Aug. 2025
Republican infighting over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files is causing delays in the House of Representatives, putting key votes at a standstill as the Rules Committee is on track to cancel a meeting meant to set the agenda for the week.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 22 July 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 20 Aug. 2025.
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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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