noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

standstill

STAND-stihl

Standstill (noun) means a complete stop; a state where nothing is moving or progressing. Example: “Traffic came to a standstill after the accident.”

noun

A complete stop; a state where nothing is moving or progressing.

"Traffic came to a standstill after the accident."

"Talks reached a standstill when both sides refused to compromise."

How to use standstill

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA total halt, whether of traffic, talks, or any kind of progress.

Common pairings

come to a standstill grind to a standstill

Word forms

standstills plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Traffic came to a _____ after the accident.

Etymology

Formed from "stand" plus "still," originally as a deverbal from the phrase "stand still."

Synonyms

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stand impasse deadlock stalemate tie-up dead end

Related words

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Frequently asked questions

What does “standstill” mean?

The word “standstill” means a complete stop; a state where nothing is moving or progressing. In plain terms, a total halt, whether of traffic, talks, or any kind of progress.

How do you pronounce “standstill”?

“Standstill” is pronounced STAND-stihl (/ˈstændˌstɪl/ in IPA).

How do you use “standstill” in a sentence?

Here is “standstill” used in a sentence: “Traffic came to a standstill after the accident.”

What part of speech is “standstill”?

“Standstill” is a noun.

Is “standstill” a common word?

“Standstill” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

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