GREAT GIFT IDEA!

The Vocabulary Builder Workbook of Adjectives

✔ Add 2,000 must-know adjectives to your vocabulary.

✔ All-in-one: dictionary, thesaurus, & workbook.

✔ 99 categorized lessons, 232 practical activities.

✔ Suitable for students & professionals of all ages.

✔ Ideal preparation for: TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, CPE, BEC, PTE, FCE

Buy on Amazon

4.9

Transform Your Vocabulary Today!

stationary

adjective

/ˈsteɪʃən(ə)ri/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of stationary

Not moving, fixed in one place or position, not changing, or not in motion.
"The stationary car caused a traffic jam on the highway."

Detailed meaning of stationary

For example, "the car was stationary in the traffic jam" or "the satellite remained stationary in orbit."

It is often a misspelling of the word "stationery", which refers to writing materials, such as paper, envelopes, pens, and pencils, that are used for writing letters or notes. It can also refer to a store that sells these materials. For example, "I bought some new stationary at the store" or "I wrote a letter on my new stationary."

In general, "stationary" implies a state of being still, fixed or unmoving, whether it's an object or a person, it's not moving, or changing in any way.

Example sentences containing stationary

1. I prefer using stationary bikes at the gym rather than the regular ones.
2. He bought a set of high-quality stationery for his letter-writing hobby.
3. The teacher gave us stationery exercises to practice our handwriting.
4. The mountain range looks stationary from a distance, but it's actually constantly shifting.
5. The clock on the wall was stationary, frozen in time.
6. The construction worker stood stationary while his colleagues worked around him.

History and etymology of stationary

The adjective 'stationary' shares its etymological roots with 'station,' both deriving from the Latin word 'statio,' which meant a standing place or a post. Over time, 'stationarius' in Late Latin referred to someone who was a guardian or watchman, often stationed at a fixed location. This sense of being fixed in one place or position carried forward into Middle English as 'stationary,' describing something that is not moving, fixed in one place or position, and not subject to change or motion. The etymology of 'stationary' thus emphasizes its connection to stability and immobility, reflecting its use in describing objects or conditions that remain constant or fixed in one place.

Quiz: Find the meaning of the adjective stationary:

answer1

answer2

answer3

answer4

Try Again!

Correct!

Continue Quiz

Further usage examples of stationary

1. Her gaze was stationary, fixed on the beautiful sunset.
2. The airplane was stationary on the tarmac due to a mechanical issue.
3. The storm left the leaves on the trees looking stationary and lifeless.
4. The artwork was displayed on a stationary easel in the gallery.
5. The company ordered stationery supplies for the employees' desks.
6. The stationary car blocked the narrow alley.
7. The sun appeared stationary in the clear sky.
8. Her gaze remained stationary on the horizon.
9. The old building stood stationary for decades.
10. Time felt stationary during the boring lecture.
11. The price of gold remained stationary for weeks.
12. The mountain range looked stationary from afar.
13. The patient's condition was stationary for now.
14. The cat sat stationary, watching the birds.
15. His career seemed stationary for a while.
16. The traffic signal remained stationary, stuck on red.
17. The glacier appeared stationary in the frozen landscape.
18. The clock's hands stayed stationary at midnight.
19. The painting depicted a stationary sailboat.
20. The stationary bike was a popular fitness choice.
21. The rock formation remained stationary for centuries.
22. The spaceship appeared stationary in the night sky.
23. The weather forecast predicted stationary clouds.
24. The river flowed silently, but its depth was stationary.
25. The bookshelf remained stationary against the wall.