stall
stawl
Stall (noun) means a small stand or booth where goods are sold, as in a market. Example: “She bought fresh strawberries from a stall at the farmers' market.”
noun
1
A small stand or booth where goods are sold, as in a market.
"She bought fresh strawberries from a stall at the farmers' market."
"The flower stall by the station opens early every morning, whatever the weather."
"He runs a small cheese stall at the Saturday market in town."
2
A compartment for one animal in a stable or barn.
"The horse was led back to its stall after the ride."
"Each stall in the old barn had a name painted above it."
"The groom cleaned out the empty stall and spread fresh straw on the floor."
3
The loss of lift in an aircraft when its angle of attack becomes too steep for the airspeed.
"The pilot recovered quickly from the stall."
"Flying too slowly while climbing steeply can cause a stall, so student pilots practise avoiding one."
"The instructor showed us how an aircraft behaves in a stall and how to recover."
verb
1
To stop making progress, often unintentionally; to come to a standstill.
"The car stalled at the traffic lights."
"Negotiations stalled after both sides refused to budge."
"Sales stalled over the winter, so the shop owner tried some new ideas."
2
To use delaying tactics to put something off.
"He kept stalling instead of giving a straight answer."
"Stop stalling and tell me whether you are coming to the party or not."
"She stalled for time by asking the waiter to explain the menu again."
How to use stall
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA market booth or animal pen, or — as a verb — to stop working (like an engine) or to deliberately delay.
Common pairings
market stall
stall for time
engine stalls
stall tactics
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like stall.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- stalls
- Third person singular
- stalls
- Past tense
- stalled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She bought fresh strawberries from a _____ at the farmers' market.
Etymology
From Old English steall, meaning "standing place" or "position," related to German Stall.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for stall
See all rhymes for stall →Frequently asked questions
What does “stall” mean?
The word “stall” means a small stand or booth where goods are sold, as in a market. In plain terms, a market booth or animal pen, or — as a verb — to stop working (like an engine) or to deliberately delay.
How do you pronounce “stall”?
“Stall” is pronounced stawl (/stɔl/ in IPA).
How do you use “stall” in a sentence?
Here is “stall” used in a sentence: “She bought fresh strawberries from a stall at the farmers' market.”
What is another word for “stall”?
Words with a similar meaning to “stall” include delay, postpone, put off, penelopize and procrastinate.
What part of speech is “stall”?
Depending on how it is used, “stall” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “stall” come from?
The word “stall” comes from Old English. From Old English steall, meaning "standing place" or "position," related to German Stall.
Is “stall” a common word?
“Stall” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “stall” have?
“Stall” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small stand or booth where goods are sold, as in a market.
What is the difference between a market stall and a stall in a stable?
A market stall is a small stand or booth where goods are sold, while a stall in a stable is a compartment where a single animal is kept. Both share the idea of a defined, enclosed small space, but one is for commerce and the other for housing an animal.
What does it mean when an engine or aircraft stalls?
When an engine stalls, it stops running unintentionally and comes to a standstill. In aviation, a stall specifically refers to the loss of lift that happens when an aircraft's angle of attack becomes too steep for its airspeed, which is a distinct and more dangerous meaning.
What is the difference between stalling and stalling someone?
To stall (intransitively) means to stop making progress, often by accident, as with a car engine. To stall someone means to deliberately use delaying tactics to put them off, which is an intentional act rather than an unwanted breakdown.
