still

1 of 6

adjective

ˈstil 

1

a

: devoid of or abstaining from motion

b

archaic : sedentary

c

: not effervescent

still wine

d(1)

: of, relating to, or being a static photograph as contrasted with a motion picture

(2)

: designed for taking still photographs

a still camera

(3)

: engaged in taking still photographs

a still photographer

2

a

: uttering no sound : quiet

b

: subdued, muted

3

a

: calm, tranquil

b

: free from noise or turbulence

stillness noun

still

2 of 6

verb (1)

stilled; stilling; stills

intransitive verb

: to become motionless or silent : quiet

transitive verb

1

a

: allay, calm

stilled their nerves

b

: to put an end to : settle

2

: to arrest the motion of

3

: silence

still

3 of 6

adverb

1

: without motion

sit still

2

archaic

a

: always, continually

b

: in a progressive manner : increasingly

3

—used as a function word to indicate the continuance of an action or condition

still lives there

drink it while it's still hot

4

: in spite of that : nevertheless

those who take the greatest care still make mistakes

5

a

: even sense 1b

a still more difficult problem

heavier still

b

: yet sense 1a

has still to be recognized

still

4 of 6

noun (1)

1

: quiet, silence

2

: a static photograph

specifically : a photograph of actors or scenes of a movie for publicity or documentary purposes

still

5 of 6

verb (2)

stilled; stilling; stills

: distill

still

6 of 6

noun (2)

1

: distillery

2

: apparatus used in distillation comprising either the chamber in which the vaporization is carried out or the entire equipment

Synonyms

Adjective

• arcadian
• calm
• hushed
• peaceful
• placid
• quiet
• restful
• serene
• stilly
• tranquil

Verb (1)

• arrest
• bring up
• catch
• check
• draw up
• fetch up
• halt
• hold up
• pull up
• stall
• stay
• stop

Adverb

• motionlessly
• quiet
• quietly

Noun (1)

• calm
• calmness
• hush
• peace
• peacefulness
• placidity
• quiet
• quietness
• quietude
• repose
• restfulness
• sereneness
• serenity
• stillness
• tranquility
• tranquillity

Examples of still in a Sentence

Adjective

The cat twitched slightly, and then was still.

Everyone had left, and the house was finally still.

a class in still photography

They had still and fizzy drinks.

Verb (1)

it seemed as though nothing could still the fighting

reading a book helps me to relax and still my mind before going to bed

the conversation was abruptly stilled by a loud crash from the next room

Adverb

Sit still. It'll just take a minute.

the cat sat absolutely still, watching as the mouse began to make its way across the floor

Noun (1)

in the still of the forest he could relax and forget his worries

a loud noise shattered the still of the night

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Previously, wild rice was most commonly found in the still, shallow backwater areas of the river. —Madeline Heim, Journal Sentinel, 4 Dec. 2024

While sparkling wine production in Marlborough is relatively small compared to its still wine output, the focus on the traditional method has resulted in wines that are gaining international recognition. —Lela London, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024

Adverb

With it, the Dodgers’ infield picture appears crystallized even as their outfield still could shift after the signing of Michael Conforto on Sunday night. —Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic, 10 Dec. 2024

Biologists working to protect fish The NPS is still concerned about the survival of this pupfish species that has no other natural habitat, however. —Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024

Noun

Crown Royal, which is owned by drinks giant Diageo, is produced at a large distillery in Gimli, Manitoba (and a smaller one in Quebec), where five different styles of whisky are made from grains like corn, rye, and barley on pot and column stills. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Dec. 2024

On another app, TikTok, some users posted not only stills but clips from Wicked, violating movie theater regulations by sharing entire scenes from the film — and all within a week of its initial release. —Bailey Richards, People.com, 26 Nov. 2024

Verb

The two – who were taller and bigger than Avila, who weighed just 97 lbs. – then forced her into a shallow creek, tied her hands behind her back, gagged her and forced her head under the water until her body stilled. —Emily Palmer, People.com, 3 Nov. 2024

Maybe Wade moved too fluidly to ever be stilled in bronze. —Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English stille, from Old English; akin to Old High German stilli still and perhaps to Old English steall stall — more at stall

Verb (2)

Middle English stillen, short for distillen to distill

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing still

• pot still
• sit still
• still alarm
• still and all
• still hunt
• still less
• still life
• still photograph
• still water
• still waters run deep
• stock-still
• the still of the night

Kids Definition

still

1 of 5 adjective

ˈstil 

1

a

: not moving

lying quiet and still

b

: of, relating to, or being an ordinary photograph rather than a motion picture

2

: uttering no sound : quiet

3

a

: tranquil, calm

b

: free from noise or commotion : peaceful

stillness noun

still

2 of 5 verb

1

a

: to make quiet : calm

still their fears

b

: to put to an end : settle

2

: to make or become motionless or silent : quiet

still

3 of 5 adverb

1

: without motion

sit still

2

: up to this or that time

still lives there

while it's still hot

3

: in spite of that : nevertheless

those who take care can still make mistakes

4

a

: even entry 3 sense 4

a still more difficult problem

b

: beyond this : in addition, yet

won still another tournament

still

4 of 5 noun

1

: quiet entry 1, silence

2

: a still photograph

still

5 of 5 noun

1

: distillery

2

: a device used in distillation

Etymology

Adjective

Old English stille "not moving"

Noun

from earlier still (verb) "to distill," from Middle English stillen, a shortened form of distillen "to distill"

Biographical Definition

Still

biographical name

ˈstil 

Andrew Taylor 1828–1917 American founder of osteopathy