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

Canada’s economy unexpectedly shrank for a second consecutive quarter as activity stalled at the start of the year, raising the likelihood the country dipped into a recession.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026

Meanwhile, negotiations to end the Iran war apparently remain stalled.

From MarketWatch • May 31, 2026

Upstream production meanwhile, has also stalled, largely as a result of the closure of the Strait, with production in the region down some 10 million barrels per day from prewar levels.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

In older fish brains, the ribosomes frequently stalled or collided with one another.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2026

I climbed in the front seat, stalled the car twice, and put on my seat belt.

From "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky

Related Words

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