Become Stale is a phrase that describes when something loses its freshness or appeal over time. It can be used to describe food, ideas, relationships, and more. The term can be broken down into two words: TURN and Stagnates. TURN is a four letter word that means to move in a circle or to change direction. Stagnates is a nine letter word that means to stop developing or progressing. Together, these two words describe the process of something becoming stale.