stagnate

verb

stag·​nate ˈstag-ˌnāt How to pronounce stagnate (audio)
stagnated; stagnating

intransitive verb

: to become or remain stagnant

Examples of stagnate in a Sentence

a puddle of stagnating water
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Instead of stagnating with a single creator off the floor, Denver can maintain its rhythm by letting Johnson handle in small bursts. Joel Rush, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 In a time when many large urban districts are watching test scores stagnate or decline, Newark is seeing math scores rise. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025 Daniel Winarta, a representative for the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta), said much of the discontent centered around the worsening economic hardships for ordinary Indonesians, as wages stagnate and living costs rise. Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025 Water gardens are fashionable but become major mosquito producers if allowed to stagnate. John Tufts, IndyStar, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for stagnate

Word History

Etymology

Latin stagnatus, past participle of stagnare, from stagnum body of standing water

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stagnate was in 1661

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stagnate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stagnate. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

stagnate

verb
stag·​nate ˈstag-ˌnāt How to pronounce stagnate (audio)
stagnated; stagnating
: to be or become stagnant
stagnation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on stagnate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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