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

Videos on social media showed traffic at a standstill on a highway leading out of Gulf Shores, where double-red beach flags signaled water access was closed. — R.j. Rico, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

The union, Union Syndicale Lycéenne, said 2,000 high schools were at a standstill and all universities were mobilized amid the protests by students, parents and teachers against poor school conditions. — News Editor, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026

That means the line comes to a standstill, and wait times become excessive. — Connie Ogle october 1, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

This summer, as river levels sank, freight transport in the Rhine and Danube came to a standstill, and nuclear power stations, cooled by river water, had to be temporarily shut down. — Imogen Foulkes, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026

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