noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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rhymes with -ɪl
CMU ARPABET:S T AE1 N D S T IH2 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A complete immobility; a halt.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
The wreck brought traffic to a standstill for hours.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: deadlock, dead stand, grind, halt, idle, stalemate, stand, impasse
Antonyms: motion, movement
2
noun
Meaning 2
an interruption of normal activity
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: stand, tie-up
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: stop, halt
3
noun
Meaning 3
a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
reached an impasse on the negotiations
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: deadlock, dead end, impasse, stalemate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: situation
History
Etymology
From stand + still, a deverbal from stand still. Compare Dutch stilstand (“a standstill”), German Stillstand (“a standstill”), Danish stilstand (“a standstill”).
Across languages
Translations
63 source translations are retained for this English entry.
