still

1 of 6

adjective

ˈstil 

1

a

: devoid of or abstaining from motion

The cat twitched slightly and then was still.

The air was still.

b

: 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 entry 1

a still small voice

3

a

: calm, tranquil

a still lake

b

: free from noise or turbulence

After everyone left the house was still.

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

The report has not stilled debate.

2

: to arrest the motion of

rivers stilled by dams

3

: silence

still

3 of 6

adverb

1

: without motion

sit still

2

archaic

a

: always, continually

b

: in a progressive manner : increasingly

moving still closer

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 of still

Adjective

• quiet
• peaceful
• serene

Verb (1)

• stop
• halt
• catch
• stall
• stay
• check

Adverb

• quietly

Noun (1)

• quiet
• restfulness
• serenity
• quietness
• sereneness
• calm

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

In the process of making the movie, Selick and his team of some 120 people created more than 200 physical models, which were meticulously positioned and photographed, creating the still frames that provided the basis for the animation. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Oct. 2026

The process also keeps the sand in a perpetual swirling motion that contrasts beautifully with the still surface. — Savannah Born, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2026

Verb

Rebecca’s hands stilled, and the girl stared at her grandmother, wide-eyed. — Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026

Both the Moody Mansion and the 1892 Bishop’s Palace are museums stilled in time and filled with the marks of late 19th-century splendor. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 July 2026

Adverb

While the completion of the structure marks an important achievement, the more important test is still ahead, as official commissioning is planned for November, after the remaining construction work is completed. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026

Larson lost control on the final stretch, hit the wall and collided with Tyler Reddick, who slid into the infield but still recovered to finish third. — Frankie Frisco, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026

Noun

While local farmers were known to operate their own small stills even through Prohibition, there wouldn’t be another large official brewery in Lake County until 1942, Dretske said, when the Zeman Brewing Company opened in Gilmer. — Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Told through a mix of documentary-style footage and stills, Lawrence’s 24 hours unfold through quiet moments at the Ritz Paris, drives through the city, music sessions, spontaneous discoveries and late-night dancing. — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026

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

Rhymes for still

• bill
• brill
• chill
• drill
• fil
• fill
• frill
• gill
• grill
• grille
• jill
• kill

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