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

Air traffic at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport came to a standstill when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop on Saturday morning as a major winter storm system unfolded across the region. —Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Nov. 2025

The demonstrations brought traffic outside the main airport building to a standstill, forcing people to abandon their cars and walk to the airport to catch their flights on time, according to FOX 11. —Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 27 Nov. 2025

Traffic was already at a standstill approaching the George Washington Bridge heading into New York City early Wednesday. —Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 26 Nov. 2025

The project fell to a standstill amid lasting COVID-19 pandemic supply chain delays and parties’ struggles to firm up a development agreement as the project’s size and scope changed. —Kansas City Star, 25 Nov. 2025

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