German word

Stillstand

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃtɪlˌʃtant/

Meaning

  • masculine nounstandstill

Example

Die Stillstände im Zugverkehr sind für die Fahrgäste ärgerlich.

The standstills in train service are frustrating for passengers.

Illustration for Stillstand (standstill)

More examples

Das Team versucht, den Stillstand zu überwinden.

The team attempts to overcome the standstill.

Core concept

Movement or progress is frozen in place, leaving a system unable to move forward.

Common phrases

  • einen Stillstand überwinden

    overcome a standstill

  • vor dem Stillstand stehen

    face a standstill

Similar words

Stagnation: A prolonged period with little growth, development, or change.
Unterbrechung: A temporary halt in an activity or process that was already underway.
Störung: A problem that disrupts normal operation or prevents events from running as planned.
Ausfall: A service or function becoming unavailable when it was expected to work.

Definition in German

Zustand, in dem eine Entwicklung oder Bewegung stillsteht und kein Fortschritt stattfindet.

Word origin

The compound Stillstand joins the inherited Germanic words still and Stand, which is related to stehen, meaning to stand.

Usage tips

  • German commonly uses zum Stillstand kommen for something coming to a halt and etwas zum Stillstand bringen for causing it to halt.

Other meanings

  • stoppagenoun
  • interruptionnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • stilllegentake out of serviceverb
  • stillgelegtout of serviceadjective

Word lists with this word