stationary
gb/stˈeɪʃənˌɛɹi/ us/stˈeɪʃənˌɛɹi/
B1
English
~ 9900
mozdulatlan, helyhez kötött, álló, stacionárius, stacioner
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[something] is/remains stationary
The cars were stationary for almost an hour in the traffic jam.
Az autók csaknem egy órán át álltak a dugóban.
Please keep the camera stationary while I take the photo.
Kérlek, tartsd mozdulatlanul a fényképezőgépet, amíg elkészítem a képet.
The train remained stationary at the platform because of a technical problem.
A stationary bike lets you exercise indoors without going anywhere.
Learner examples
The bus is stationary at the stop.
A busz a megállóban áll.
He stood stationary while the dog ran around him.
Mozdulatlanul állt, miközben a kutya körülötte szaladgált.
Please keep your head stationary during the eye test.
The ball stayed stationary on the floor.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'stationary' (not moving) with 'stationery' (paper, pens, etc.) because they sound the same. Another mistake is using 'stationary' as a noun (*I bought a stationary*), which is wrong; it is an adjective and must describe a noun (*a stationary car*). Learners also sometimes overuse 'stationary' where simple 'still' sounds more natural in everyday speech (e.g. *I am still* instead of *I am stationary*).
Meaning
Not moving; motionless
Collocations
remain stationary
|stay stationary
|keep [something] stationary
|almost stationary
|stationary car
|stationary object
Synonyms
motionless (Often suggests a complete lack of movement, while 'stationary' can also mean fixed in place even if small movements happen inside.)
|
still (More common in everyday speech, especially about people, animals, or water; can also mean 'quiet' or 'calm'.)
Antonyms
moving (Directly describes being in motion, the opposite of not moving.)
|
mobile (Able to move or be moved, the opposite of being fixed in one place.)
Themes
daily life
|movement
|transport
|core_vocabulary
|space
Definition
Not moving; staying in one place.
Not moving or intended to move; fixed in one place.
C1
TECHNICAL
2
stacionárius
C1
stacioner
C2
Usage pattern:
[something] is stationary
The model assumes a stationary process, where the mean and variance do not change over time.
A modell stacionárius folyamatot feltételez, amelyben a várható érték és a variancia az időben nem változik.
In a stationary population, birth rates and death rates are in long-term balance.
Stacioner népességben a születési és halálozási arányszámok hosszú távon egyensúlyban vannak.
The researcher checked whether the time series was stationary before running the test.
The system eventually reaches a stationary state in which its overall properties stay constant.
Learner examples
The professor asked if the data were stationary or changing over time.
A professzor megkérdezte, hogy az adatok stacionáriusak-e, vagy időben változnak.
The teacher explained that a stationary process has the same pattern at all times.
A tanár elmagyarázta, hogy egy stacionárius folyamat mindig ugyanazt a mintázatot mutatja.
The graph is not stationary because its average value keeps going up.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this technical sense always means 'not moving in space', but here it means 'not changing over time' in numbers or patterns. It is mainly used in statistics, physics, and similar fields, not in everyday talk about people or objects.
Meaning
Not changing over time (technical)
Collocations
stationary process
|stationary distribution
|stationary state
|stationary population
|stationary series
|stationary point
Synonyms
stable (Suggests not changing or varying; broader and less technical than 'stationary' in this sense.)
|
steady (Means regular and unchanging, but is more general and less precise than the technical term 'stationary'.)
Antonyms
variable (Describes something that changes over time, the direct opposite of stationary in this technical sense.)
|
dynamic (Emphasizes active change or development over time, contrasting with unchanging properties.)
Themes
science
|statistics
|physics
|mathematics
|time
Definition
In science or math, not changing over time in its main numbers or pattern.
In mathematics or science, having statistical or physical properties that do not change over time.
Grammar
Dictionary form
stationary
IPA
GB/stˈeɪʃənˌɛɹi/
US/stˈeɪʃənˌɛɹi/
Syllables & stress
sta - tion - ary (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sta)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: stationary
Word family
Core family
station
noun A1
Related words
stationery
noun B1
Expressions
remain stationary
1/ɹɪmˈeɪn stˈeɪʃənˌɛɹi/
fixed phrase
Continue to stay still
To stay in the same place without moving.
Examples
- During the earthquake, we were told to remain stationary and protect our heads.
- The boats remained stationary on the calm water.
- The traffic lights turned green, but one car remained stationary.
stationary bike
1/stˈeɪʃənˌɛɹi bˈaɪk/
fixed phrase
Exercise bicycle that does not move
A bicycle you use for exercise that stays in one place and does not move along the road.
Examples
- She rides a stationary bike at the gym for thirty minutes every morning.
- I bought a stationary bike so I can work out at home.
- The physical therapist asked him to warm up on the stationary bike.