Word
standstill
Phoneticsstand·still, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstændˌstɪɫ/
UK/stˈændstɪl/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a situation where all movement or activity stops completely. You use this when traffic, work, or a process cannot continue.
n. a state in which all motion or progress has ceased. Often follows the verbs 'bring' or 'come' to describe the cessation of a process or physical movement.
Examples
“The heavy snow brought traffic to a complete standstill.”
“Negotiations between the two companies came to a standstill after they failed to agree on the final price.”
“The sudden failure of the central server brought the entire production line to a standstill, leaving hundreds of workers idle while technicians scrambled to restore power.”
Examples
simple
“The heavy snow brought traffic to a complete standstill.”
contextual
“Negotiations between the two companies came to a standstill after they failed to agree on the final price.”
complex
“The sudden failure of the central server brought the entire production line to a standstill, leaving hundreds of workers idle while technicians scrambled to restore power.”
Usage
Commonly used in the singular with the prepositions 'to' or 'at', specifically in the phrases 'come to a standstill' or 'at a standstill'.
Real-World Examples
“Those sales have largely come to a standstill since US President Donald Trump’s 50 percent tariff on $20bn in Canadian goods, including dairy products, came into effect on August 22.” “Roads close and traffic comes to a complete standstill.” Etymology
From stand + still, a deverbal from stand still. Compare Dutch stilstand (“standstill”), German Stillstand (“standstill”), Danish stilstand (“standstill”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
PHRASAL VERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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