standstill

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Congress is at a standstill trying to pass key legislation, the military is mired in a conflict in the Middle East, and the president just faced his third assassination attempt in two years.

From Slate • Apr. 28, 2026

The minutes-long standstill forced several people into the street; many more, including my husband and his cane, engaged in a potentially perilous stutter-step around the two knee-high, randomly moving yet noncommunicative vehicles.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

Shipments have largely been at a standstill since the conflict started on 28 February, though some countries like India and Malaysia have negotiated safe passage for their vessels.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Some vessels have managed to transit the waterway, but flows remain at a virtual standstill, tightening supplies not only of energy but other key commodities like fertilizers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

In my mind I could see it because I have seen people running away—the roads clogged to a standstill and the stampede over the cliff of our own designing.

From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck