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.
As Tesla’s sales stagnate, Elon Musk, busy with a new job in Washington, seems to be doing little to turn the company around. Jeffrey Gettleman, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2025 Cramer said some groups are stagnating, others are soaring, and others are completely falling apart. Julie Coleman, CNBC, 19 Feb. 2025 The aging trend is having, or will have, two distinct impacts, one on the elderly population itself as its needs for housing, medical care and other services increase, and the other on the state as a whole as the number of working-age adults stagnates. Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025 The aging trend is having, or will have, two distinct impacts, one on the elderly population itself as its needs for housing, medical care and other services increase, and the other on the state as a whole as the number of working age adults stagnates. Dan Walters, Orange County Register, 14 Feb. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Stagnate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stagnate. Accessed 1 Mar. 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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