time has stood still

USAGE SUMMARY

"time has stood still" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to emphasize the feeling that something is remaining unchanged over an extended period of time. For example, "It feels like time has stood still since I last visited my childhood home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

"Time has stood still for me.

The New York Times

"Time has stood still for us up here".

The New York Times

But then, time has stood still for so long.

The New York Times

You get the impression that time has stood still for more than half a century.

Independent

There, it is easy to imagine that time has stood still.

The New York Times

"When you walk into it it's as if time has stood still," he told the Guardian.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

It was like time had stood still.

Independent

On the screen above, though, time had stood still.

The New York Times

It was as if time had stood still.

The Guardian - Music

Standing in this ancient landscape, I felt time had stood still.

The Guardian - Travel

Ten or maybe two minutes later – time had stood still – a neighbour called to us.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "time has stood still" to evoke a sense of nostalgia or to describe situations where progress seems to have halted, creating a vivid contrast between the past and present.

Common error

Avoid using "time had stood still" when the context requires a present perfect tense. The present perfect emphasizes the continuing relevance or impact of the event, while past perfect shifts the focus to a point earlier than another past action.

Linguistic Context

The idiomatic expression "time has stood still" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used to illustrate a sense of stagnation, lack of change, or a feeling of being frozen in a particular moment. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Formal & Business

24%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Science

6%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "time has stood still" is a grammatically correct idiomatic expression used to describe a lack of change or progress over time. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, often evoking nostalgia or highlighting a contrast between past and present. While not exceedingly common, it is well-recognized and suitable for both formal and informal writing. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of this phrase, suggesting its reliability for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

time has stopped

Focuses on the cessation of time's passage, simpler structure.

everything remained unchanged

Highlights the lack of alteration or progress.

things have remained the same

Emphasizes the continuation of the status quo without alteration.

the world stood still

Broadens the scope to encompass a global standstill.

time is frozen

Uses a metaphor of freezing to convey the lack of movement in time.

the clock stopped ticking

Emphasizes the cessation of temporal progression, more figurative.

progress has halted

Focuses on the cessation of advancement or development.

events are frozen in time

Highlights the state of affairs as being captured or preserved without evolution.

the past is ever-present

Implies the continued relevance and impact of historical events.

nothing has changed

Highlights a lack of transformation or innovation.

FAQs

How can I use "time has stood still" in a sentence?

You can use "time has stood still" to describe a place or situation that feels unchanged over a long period, such as, "Visiting my grandmother's house is like "time has stood still"; everything is exactly as I remember it from my childhood."

What does it mean when someone says "time has stood still"?

When someone says ""time has stood still"", it means they feel that a place, situation, or even a person has remained unchanged over a significant period. It's often used to express a sense of nostalgia or a lack of progress.

What are some alternatives to saying "time has stood still"?

Alternatives to ""time has stood still"" include phrases like "time has stopped", "everything remained unchanged", or "things have remained the same". The best choice depends on the specific context.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "time has stood still"?

The phrase ""time has stood still"" is appropriate in contexts where you want to emphasize the lack of change or progress, evoke nostalgia, or describe a situation that feels frozen in a particular moment or era.