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

See Examples For:

stalled

Meanwhile, Britain’s Labour government stalled on corroborating its ally’s assertions while Labour held its annual conference and rallied to a new prime minister, Andy Burnham.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Today, she’s stalled out and blaming her failure on happenstance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

The S&P 500 has been in holding pattern for two months now, its progress stalled by bond-market carnage and its technicals undermined by the narrow breadth of stocks keeping up the index.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

Peace negotiations to bring an end to the war have also stalled.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

The man stalled in his progress, seeking a further handhold.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

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