still
adverb
UK/stɪl/US/stɪl/
Up to and including the present time; continuing in the same condition or situation, often in spite of difficulties or changes; nevertheless.
Example Sentences
She has been waiting for hours, but he still hasn’t arrived.
He quit his job months ago, yet he still keeps in touch with former colleagues.
Despite the heavy rain, the marathon is still scheduled to take place tomorrow as planned.
We still need to finalize the budget, or we risk missing the deadline this quarter.
After multiple setbacks, they are still determined to launch their start-up this year.
I’ve explained the process twice, but he still seems confused about the instructions.
They’ve traveled the world for nearly a decade, yet they still find new places that amaze them with unique cultures and breathtaking landscapes.
He already apologized for the mistake, but she still felt the tension lingering between them, wanting a deeper conversation to fully resolve the underlying issues.
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adjective
UK/stɪl/US/stɪl/
Not moving or making a sound; motionless, calm, or quiet in nature.
Example Sentences
She stood still in the moonlight, mesmerized by the distant sounds of nocturnal creatures.
The house was still after everyone had gone to bed, allowing her to focus on her reading.
We found a quiet lake with perfectly still water, reflecting the surrounding trees like a mirror.
He can remain so still that the wild birds seem comfortable perching near him.
During meditation, practitioners often try to keep their bodies as still as possible to calm the mind.
The air was unexpectedly still before the storm, creating an eerie yet serene atmosphere on the deserted street.
She noticed the child sitting so still at the back of the class, absorbed in drawing and oblivious to the chatter around her.
The cat crouched perfectly still, eyes locked on the unsuspecting bird, waiting for the precise moment to pounce and demonstrate its instinctual agility.
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noun (countable)
UK/stɪl/US/stɪl/
A device used for distillation (often to produce alcoholic beverages) by heating a liquid to create vapor and condensing the vapor back into liquid form; also, a static image from a film (a 'movie still').
Example Sentences
The moonshiner built his own copper still to produce whiskey deep in the woods.
They used an old-fashioned still to create essential oils from lavender and other herbs.
A movie still can capture a memorable scene and reveal subtle details that might be missed during playback.
She loved collecting vintage film stills, framing them as art to display in her home.
They discovered a small hidden room that contained a rusted still and ancient empty bottles.
The brand’s signature gin is crafted in a centuries-old still that produces a distinct, time-honored flavor.
He collected stills from classic black-and-white cinema, carefully labeling each with the film’s title and release year for an impressive gallery wall featuring iconic pieces of Hollywood history.
Brewers sometimes experiment with different still designs, attempting to create unique spirits that stand out in a crowded market by blending traditional methods with modern technology.
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verb (transitive)
UK/stɪl/US/stɪl/
To make or become quiet, calm, or motionless; to soothe or ease agitation (archaic or formal usage).
Example Sentences
He tried to still the trembling child by offering gentle reassurance and a warm blanket.
The singer’s peaceful lullaby seemed to still the restless crowd, drawing everyone’s attention to the stage.
In poetic terms, the wind might still the waves, returning the ocean’s surface to a serene mirror.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and attempted to still her racing thoughts before the big test.
As the night wore on, the caretaker gently stroked the sick animal’s fur, hoping to still its discomfort with soothing words and tender care.
Yoga exercises often focus on breathing techniques designed to still both body and mind, promoting better balance and inner peace.
The king rose and spoke a single phrase to still the clamor in the court, demonstrating his firm leadership and command over his subjects’ respect.
To truly still the chaos of daily life, some find solace in nature—immersing themselves in quiet forests, tranquil lakesides, or secluded mountain paths—where distractions fade and calmness takes root.
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How to Use
Indicates continuity, lack of movement, or persistent state.This term wears multiple hats: it can serve as an adverb, adjective, or even a noun in certain contexts. As an adverb, it typically conveys that an action or condition is ongoing, as in “I still haven’t received the package.” In this sense, the focus is on persistence—what was true before remains true now. You’ll also encounter it in contrastive statements, highlighting a surprising or unexpected continuation of a situation: “It’s late, but I still want to go out.”In its role as an adjective, the word underscores a state of calmness or motionlessness: “The lake was completely still at dawn.” This usage paints a serene image and emphasizes the absence of movement or disturbance. You can also detect traces of this meaning in poetic or literary contexts, where it vividly describes a tranquil setting. Alternatively, in more figurative or emotional expressions, it can suggest inner quiet or composure, such as “Her mind felt still after meditation.”Occasionally, you’ll see it used as a noun in phrases like “the still of the night,” which highlights a period or place of absolute silence. This usage is less common in everyday conversation but resonates strongly in literature or descriptive writing, underscoring a mood of hushed calm.When integrating this term in your speech or writing, consider whether you wish to emphasize persistence, calm, or inactivity. If you need to underscore that something continues to happen (especially when it’s unexpected or worth noting), go with the adverbial usage. If you aim to describe a tranquil place or motionless state, adopt the adjective form. And if you want to evoke a deep sense of silence and peace, you might find its nominal usage appealing in a more poetic setting. Such flexibility makes the word a valuable tool for bringing clarity, emphasis, or atmosphere to your discourse without clutter.
Alternatives
There are multiple ways to convey the sense of ongoing action or persistent states without relying solely on this term. One common substitute is “yet,” which also underscores that something remains true despite time passing. For instance, “I have yet to hear back” highlights the expectation of a response while indicating it hasn’t arrived. Meanwhile, “continuing to” functions well when you wish to describe an action that persists: “She is continuing to practice guitar,” explicitly captures the ongoing nature of her routine.If you focus more on the calm or motionless aspect, consider “motionless,” “immobile,” or “tranquil.” These synonyms highlight a lack of movement or disturbance: “The pond remained motionless” or “He stood immobile in fear.” For purely tranquil or peaceful settings, words like “serene” or “stillness” (a slight twist on the noun form) can also fill the gap, though they might shift your sentence style.In contexts where you aim to underline silence or a hushed environment, “silent” or “quiet” might be your best fit: “She walked through the silent halls” conveys the same kind of subdued atmosphere. By mixing these alternatives in your vocabulary, you maintain variety in both writing and speech, avoiding repetitive echoes of the same expression while still conveying your intended nuance.
Writing
When writing, carefully choose where and how you use this word to bolster clarity and resonance. If your sentence aims to stress the ongoing nature of an event, as in “He still hasn’t replied to my message,” you help the reader sense your anticipation or impatience. This usage often appears in personal narratives or opinion pieces, where an ongoing situation warrants attention. Alternatively, if you want to depict a scene’s serenity or lifelessness—“The house stood still after midnight”—you craft a vivid, almost cinematic image of calmness.If you employ it too frequently, however, the impact can wane, and your text may read as repetitive. Try rotating in near-synonyms or restructuring sentences to keep your prose dynamic. For instance, instead of repeatedly saying, “We still haven’t reached a conclusion,” you can vary the wording: “We have yet to settle on a final decision.” If you’re painting a tranquil tableau, you might alternate with words like “serene” or “motionless” to diversify your descriptive palette.Additionally, pay attention to tone. In formal documents or academic essays, you might replace it with more explicit time markers or transitions, such as “continues to” or “has not ceased to.” By tailoring your word choices and maintaining a balance, you’ll effectively highlight the persistence or calmness you wish to convey without relying too heavily on one term.
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversations, this word conveniently flags situations or emotions that persist in spite of expectations. For example, “I’m still hungry!” tells your friend that your hunger remains even though you might’ve eaten recently. Or, “Are you still at the mall?” indicates that you want to see if someone’s activity has changed over time.It’s also helpful when emphasizing surprising continuity: “He’s still working on that project?” might suggest you expected him to be finished already. And in more lighthearted contexts, it can underscore lingering emotions: “I still can’t believe we won that game!” This usage helps you express amazement or disbelief with just a single word.When you pivot to describing calmness in everyday speech, you might say things like, “Everything was so still this morning,” often followed by a note on how unusual that is. It gives your listener a snapshot of a quiet, unchanging moment. Overall, it’s a small but flexible word that smoothly threads through casual chat to highlight things that remain the same—whether they’re activities, feelings, or states of quiet. Just be mindful not to overuse it, or you risk diluting its punch.
Etymology
The word descends from Old English “ stille,” which meant “at rest” or “free from noise,” reflecting its age-old association with quiet and motionlessness. Over centuries, English evolved to allow this same term to function in varied parts of speech—adverb, adjective, and even a noun—while retaining the core essence of uninterrupted continuance or lack of movement.As the language developed, the adverbial sense broadened to highlight the concept of something persisting despite time or change, aligning neatly with how we often use it today (“I still haven’t finished reading that book!”). Meanwhile, as the adjective, it never lost the link to tranquility or silence, expanding subtly across literature and daily speech to describe a hush or absence of motion. The noun form—such as “in the still of the night”—lends a layer of poetic depth, painting vivid pictures of utter silence. Consequently, from its ancient roots to its modern multiplicity, this short, versatile word has consistently served as a linchpin for describing continuity, serenity, and unwavering presence.