stagnating

/stæɡˈneɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [stˈæɡnˌetɪŋ] /ˈstæɡ.neɪt/ (ame, ipa)

stagnating — verb

  • stagnatingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • stagnatings3rd person singular
  • stagnatinging-ing form
  • stagnatingedpast simple

1. to stop progressing or developing and stay at an unchanged level for too long —

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to stop progressing or developing and stay at an unchanged level for too long — used especially of economies, careers, personal growth, or negotiations that fail to move forward

例句

Wei felt his career stagnating after five years in the same role in Osaka.

present participle as subject complement: feel + [possessive] + career + stagnating

The town's economy stagnated when the main textile factory shut down in 2019.

intransitive with cause clause: economy + stagnate + when-clause

同義詞
  • plateau

    implies reaching a level where further progress stops after a period of growth; common in fitness and learning contexts

  • stall

    suggests a temporary halt that may resume; more urgent than stagnate

  • languish

    adds a sense of suffering or decline during the inactivity, not just lack of progress

反義詞
  • grow

    to increase in size, amount, or degree through natural development

  • develop

    to grow or change into a more advanced or mature state

  • thrive

    to grow, develop, or be successful in a healthy or vigorous way

文法句型

stagnate + adverbial of time

stagnate + in/for [noun phrase]

用法筆記

Subject is usually a process or situation that is expected to improve over time — for example an economy, career, market, relationship, or skill. Frequently used with time references (for years, for months). Often takes an adverbial of reason (because of, due to).

常見錯誤

❌My computer stagnated and became slow.
✅My computer slowed down and became sluggish.
💡'stagnate' means to stay the same without progress, not to slow down in performance.
❌I stagnated myself by not trying new things.
✅I let myself stagnate by not trying new things.
💡'stagnate' is intransitive; you cannot 'stagnate someone'.

2. for liquids or gases, to become completely still and stop circulating, often tur

2.動詞不及物B2
釋義

for liquids or gases, to become completely still and stop circulating, often turning dirty, smelly, or unhealthy — used especially for water in ponds, puddles, or canals, and for air in enclosed spaces

例句

The water in the garden pond stagnated when the pump broke down last summer.

stagnate + subject (water in [place]) + cause clause

Air stagnates in windowless basements because there is no way for it to circulate.

同義詞
  • become stale

    specifically about air losing freshness; more informal

  • become still

    a neutral, literal description without the negative connotation of dirtiness

反義詞
  • flow

    to move smoothly and continuously in one direction

  • circulate

    to move around continuously within a system or space

文法句型

stagnate + adverbial of place

stagnate + in/at [location]

用法筆記

Subject is always a liquid or a gas — most commonly water, air, or a specific body of water (pond, puddle, canal). Does not apply to things that move by nature, such as rivers or wind.

常見錯誤

❌The river stagnated during the dry season.
✅The river slowed down during the dry season.
💡rivers are expected to flow; 'stagnate' describes water that has become still, not just slower.