stagnate
gb/stˈæɡnˌeɪt/ us/stˈæɡnˌeɪt/
C1
English
megreked, stagnál, pang
VERB
C1
1
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] stagnates
After five years in the same role, she felt her career was beginning to stagnate.
Öt év ugyanabban a pozícióban után úgy érezte, hogy a karrierje kezd megrekedni.
The project stagnated because no one was willing to make a decision.
A projekt megrekedt, mert senki sem volt hajlandó döntést hozni.
Without new challenges, your skills can stagnate quickly.
Learner examples
His English improved at first, but then it stagnated.
Az angolja eleinte javult, de aztán megrekedt.
The team needs new ideas, or the project will stagnate.
A csapatnak új ötletekre van szüksége, különben a projekt megreked.
Common mistake:
Do not use it with a direct object in standard English: say “My career stagnated,” not “The company stagnated my career.”
Meaning
stop developing or improving
Collocations
career stagnates
|project stagnates
|skills stagnate
|development stagnates
|progress stagnates
|relationship stagnates
|creativity stagnates
|business stagnates
|stagnate for years
|begin to stagnate
Synonyms
stall (suggests progress suddenly stops, often temporarily)
|
plateau (suggests reaching a level and then no longer improving)
|
languish (suggests becoming weak or unsuccessful because of neglect or lack of activity)
Antonyms
progress (means to move forward or improve)
|
develop (means to grow or become more advanced)
|
thrive (means to grow, succeed, or do very well)
Themes
progress
|work
|education
|personal_development
Definition
If a person, project, or situation stagnates, it stops improving or moving forward.
To stop developing, improving, or making progress, especially because there is too little change, activity, or challenge.
VERB
C1
BUSINESS
2
Usage pattern:
[economy/market/sales/wages] stagnate
The economy stagnated after consumer spending fell.
A gazdaság stagnált, miután visszaesett a fogyasztói költekezés.
Wages have stagnated while housing costs have continued to rise.
A bérek stagnáltak, miközben a lakhatási költségek tovább emelkedtek.
Sales stagnated in the second half of the year despite heavy advertising.
Learner examples
Prices rose, but wages stagnated.
Az árak emelkedtek, de a bérek stagnáltak.
The market stagnated last year.
A piac tavaly stagnált.
Common mistake:
“Stagnate” often describes the situation itself: “Wages stagnated,” not usually “Employers stagnated wages.”
Meaning
show little economic growth
Collocations
economy stagnates
|market stagnates
|sales stagnate
|wages stagnate
|growth stagnates
|prices stagnate
|investment stagnates
|productivity stagnates
|demand stagnates
|profits stagnate
Synonyms
flatline (informal or journalistic; suggests no growth at all)
|
stall (suggests growth or activity stops, often after earlier progress)
|
level off (suggests rising growth becomes steady rather than continuing upward)
Antonyms
grow (means to increase economically)
|
expand (means to become larger or more active)
|
recover (means to improve after a weak period)
Themes
economics
|business
|markets
|finance
Definition
If an economy, market, or sales stagnate, they stop growing or increase very little.
To have little or no growth in economic activity, sales, wages, production, or similar measures.
VERB
C1
3
Usage pattern:
[water/air] stagnates; [water] stagnates in [place]
Rainwater can stagnate in old tires and attract mosquitoes.
Az esővíz megpanghat a régi gumikban, és odavonzhatja a szúnyogokat.
The air in the basement stagnated because there were no windows.
A pincében megrekedt a levegő, mert nem voltak ablakok.
If the pond is not cleaned regularly, the water may stagnate.
Learner examples
Water stagnates in the bucket.
A víz megpang a vödörben.
Open a window so the air does not stagnate.
Nyiss ablakot, hogy a levegő ne rekedjen meg.
Common mistake:
This verb is usually intransitive: say “Water stagnates in the tank,” not “The tank stagnates the water.”
Meaning
stop flowing and become stale
Collocations
water stagnates
|air stagnates
|stagnate in pools
|stagnate in a tank
|stagnate in ditches
|stagnant water
|poorly ventilated air
|standing water
|drainage problems
|breed mosquitoes
Synonyms
stand (used especially of water that remains in one place)
|
go stale (more informal; emphasizes becoming unpleasant from lack of fresh air or movement)
|
become stagnant (the adjective form; very common for water or air)
Antonyms
flow (means to move continuously, especially of liquid)
|
circulate (means to move around through a space or system)
|
freshen (means to become fresher or less stale)
Themes
water
|environment
|health
|nature
Definition
If water or air stagnates, it does not move and becomes dirty or unpleasant.
For water or air to stop moving or circulating and become stale, dirty, or unpleasant.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stagnate
IPA
GB/stˈæɡnˌeɪt/
US/stˈæɡnˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
stag - nate (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (stag)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: stagnate
- 3rd Person Singular: stagnates
- Present Participle: stagnating
- Past: stagnated
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.