stalled

American  

[stawld] / stɔld /

adjective

1. stuck or not moving; at a standstill.

   A spacewalk will be required to repair the stalled robotic arm on the space station's solar array.

   Intense storm systems along the stalled cold front have dropped heavy rains throughout the metro area.

2. (of a motor or vehicle) having come to a stop because of engine failure or a poor fuel mixture.

   Rain and sleet smack the surface of the lake as Jules fumbles with a stalled outboard motor.

3. (of an aircraft or airfoil) no longer generating lift due to an excessive angle of attack.

   At a sustained high angle the airfoil becomes useless, resulting in a stalled aircraft.

4. kept in a stall, a compartment usually intended for the accommodation of one animal.

   Our overwhelming first impression is of the piquant smell of sheep blending with the manure of the stalled oxen and a milk cow.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of stall.

Etymology

Origin of stalled

stall ¹ ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Social Circle's facility was originally slated to open in April, but work appears to have stalled.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

Reports describe last-minute efforts to hold onto the job and mounting frustration over stalled prosecutions and the handling of high-profile files tied to Jeffrey Epstein.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

A group of Grubhub veterans have found their next act: an app that lets drivers get help with flat tires and stalled engines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

But repeated setbacks stalled the mission and even necessitated rolling the rocket back to its hangar for analysis and repairs.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

I was going to yell out and explain it all to her, but while I was coordinating the pedals and the steering and my tilting body at the same time, I stalled the car.

From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez

Related Words

• frozen
• immobile
• inert
• lifeless
• paralyzed
• stagnant
• stationary
• steadfast