noun
standstill
STAND-stihl
noun
1
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 notesIn 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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Traffic came to a _____ after the accident.
Etymology
Formed from "stand" plus "still," originally as a deverbal from the phrase "stand still."