stalled: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral (Used across formal, informal, business, and technical contexts)
Quick answer
What does “stalled” mean?
(past tense/past participle of 'stall') To have stopped moving, progressing, or operating, often temporarily.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
(past tense/past participle of 'stall') To have stopped moving, progressing, or operating, often temporarily.
Can describe a machine ceasing to function; a negotiation, process, or career failing to advance; a vehicle's engine stopping unexpectedly; or a deliberate act of causing delay.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Stalled' is equally common and used identically in both varieties. The verb 'to stall' (present tense) is slightly more frequent in AmE when referring to a car engine stopping.
Connotations
Identical. Carries a uniformly negative connotation of delay, failure to progress, or breakdown.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both. Slightly higher frequency in American business/technical reports discussing 'stalled projects' or 'stalled negotiations'.
Grammar
How to Use “stalled” in a Sentence
[Subject] stalled (intransitive)[Subject] stalled [Object] (transitive, e.g., 'He stalled the car')[Subject] got/became stalled (adjectival passive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stalled” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The lorry stalled on the roundabout.
- Parliamentary proceedings were stalled by the filibuster.
American English
- My truck stalled at the traffic light.
- The bill stalled in committee.
adverb
British English
- Not standardly used as an adverb.
- N/A
American English
- Not standardly used as an adverb.
- N/A
adjective
British English
- We're in a stalled lift, waiting for engineering.
- The stalled peace talks are a major concern.
American English
- We have a stalled car on the freeway.
- The stalled investigation frustrated everyone.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Describes failed progress in negotiations, projects, or economic growth (e.g., 'The merger talks have stalled').
Academic
Used in social sciences to describe halted development or reform; in engineering for mechanical failure.
Everyday
Commonly refers to a car breaking down or a plan not moving forward (e.g., 'My diet has stalled').
Technical
In aviation: an aerodynamic stall where wings lose lift; in computing: a process unable to proceed.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stalled”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stalled”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stalled”
- Using 'stalled' for a permanent end (use 'ended' or 'terminated').
- Incorrect: 'The movie stalled at 9 pm.' (Correct: 'The movie *started* at 9 pm.').
- Confusing 'stalled' (stopped) with 'installed' (fitted).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While common for vehicles and engines, it is widely used for any process that stops making progress, like talks, careers, or projects.
'Delayed' implies a later start or finish. 'Stalled' implies progress has *completely stopped*, often with no clear resumption time.
Rarely. It almost always has a negative connotation of unwanted cessation. A possible neutral/positive use might be in aviation training: 'He practiced a stalled turn.'
Yes, in informal contexts (e.g., 'The project got stalled'). More formal writing prefers 'was stalled' or 'became stalled'.
(past tense/past participle of 'stall') To have stopped moving, progressing, or operating, often temporarily.
Stalled is usually neutral (used across formal, informal, business, and technical contexts) in register.
Stalled: in British English it is pronounced /stɔːld/, and in American English it is pronounced /stɔːld/ (General American) /stɑːld/ (with cot-caught merger). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “stalled in its tracks”
- “hit a stall (aviation context)”
- “stalled out”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a **stall** in a market – the business has stopped. A **stalled** car is like a market stall that isn't moving.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS FORWARD MOTION / A JOURNEY. 'Stalled' metaphorically means the vehicle of progress has broken down on the journey.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'stalled' used CORRECTLY?