has stalled

USAGE SUMMARY

'has stalled' is a valid and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something has stopped or paused in its progress or development. For example: "The negotiations between the two countries have stalled, and a resolution does not appear to be near."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Industrialisation has stalled.

The Economist

Job creation has stalled.

The New York Times

The economy has stalled.

The Economist

Brazil's economy has stalled.

The Economist

Macedonia, however, has stalled.

The Economist

Growth has stalled.

The Economist

Domestic investment has stalled.

The Economist

The plan has stalled.

The New York Times

Industrial production has stalled.

The Economist

Construction has stalled.

The New York Times

Reconstruction has stalled.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has stalled" to describe processes, economies or negotiations that have unexpectedly stopped making progress. It carries a professional tone suitable for reporting on statistics or project management.

Common error

Do not use "has stalled" for projects that have been permanently cancelled. The term implies a loss of power or progress that might theoretically be regained, similar to a car engine that can be restarted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has stalled" functions as a present perfect verb phrase, combining the auxiliary verb "has" with the past participle of "stall". According to Ludwig, it is used to denote an action that started in the past and has current relevance, specifically the cessation of progress.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "has stalled" is a highly versatile and professional phrase used to describe an interruption in progress. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a standard expression across top-tier publications. It is most effective when describing economic trends, political processes or professional development. While it literally refers to mechanical failure, its metaphorical application in News & Media is its most dominant use case today, providing a clear way to communicate that a once-moving process has lost its power or encountered a significant obstacle.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has ground to a halt

Describes a more dramatic, forceful stop compared to the query.

has come to a standstill

Suggests a state of total inactivity or lack of movement.

has lost momentum

Focuses on the slowing of speed rather than a complete cessation.

has plateaued

Implies reaching a stable level where progress has leveled off rather than failing.

has flatlined

Often used in medical or economic contexts to indicate zero growth or activity.

has reached an impasse

Specifically used for negotiations where parties cannot reach an agreement.

has bogged down

Suggests becoming stuck in details, complications or bureaucracy.

has hit a snag

Indicates that a specific, minor obstacle is causing the delay.

has been put on hold

Implies a deliberate, often temporary, decision to pause.

is at a dead end

Suggests that no further progress is possible along the current path.

FAQs

How to use "has stalled" in a sentence?

You use it to describe something that has stopped moving forward. For example: "The peace process <a href="/s/has+stalled" target="_blank" rel="alternative">has stalled due to new demands from both sides."

What can I say instead of "has stalled"?

Depending on the nuance, you can use phrases like "<a href="/s/has+ground+to+a+halt" target="_blank" rel="alternative">has ground to a halt", "<a href="/s/has+plateaued" target="_blank" rel="alternative">has plateaued" or "<a href="/s/has+hit+a+bottleneck" target="_blank" rel="alternative">has hit a bottleneck".

Which is correct, "has stalled" or "is stalled"?

Both are correct but function differently. "<a href="/s/has+stalled" target="_blank" rel="alternative">has stalled" is the present perfect form focusing on the action that occurred, while "<a href="/s/is+stalled" target="_blank" rel="alternative">is stalled" describes the current state of the subject.

What's the difference between "has stalled" and "has stopped"?

"<a href="/s/has+stopped" target="_blank" rel="alternative">has stopped" is a general term for cessation, whereas "has stalled" specifically implies a loss of momentum or a failure of a mechanism that was previously moving.