Copy Citation
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ1
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
stillness
noun
stilled; stilling; stills
: to become motionless or silent : quiet
2
: to arrest the motion of
3
: silence
1
: without motion
sit still
2
3
—used as a function word to indicate the continuance of an action or condition
still lives theredrink 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
1
2
: apparatus used in distillation comprising either the chamber in which the vaporization is carried out or the entire equipment
Synonyms
Adjective
Verb (1)
Adverb
Noun (1)
Example Sentences
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.
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
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Andi Babineau, CNN, 31 Jan. 2023
The case became national news, with outrage building until the local prosecutor’s office released a still image from a body camera that showed the woman, later reported to not be pregnant, had been clutching a gun.
—Chelsia Rose Marcius, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2023
The case became national news, with outrage building until the local prosecutor’s office released a still image from a body camera that showed the woman, later reported to not be pregnant, had been clutching a gun.
—Mitch Smith, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Jan. 2023
With only a few weeks to prepare for the Netflix film, Kerwin and hair department head Jaime Leigh McIntosh’s first day of production was a photo shoot creating the still images that would show Marilyn’s rise to fame throughout the film.
—Carita Rizzo, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Dec. 2022
In every Instagram-like reel section, users can click on a share button to create a still image of that Replay 2022 part.
—José Adorno, BGR, 29 Nov. 2022
Kemp then wandered the hallways at the school with the bouquet, according to a still image from a security camera at the school that is included in the court filing.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2022
Enables creators to easily create high-quality looping human animations, complete with realistic human movements, all from a still image.
—PCMAG, 21 Oct. 2022
Meta Video of a sea turtle, animated from a still image with Make-A-Video.
—Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 29 Sep. 2022
Morgan Meis, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2023
Even with some dark overcast skies, the CarCam held up with slightly dimmer but still usable videos and stills.
—Hunter Fenollol, Popular Mechanics, 22 Feb. 2023
Police also shared a still of the car believed to be involved in the shooting.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2021
Agents brought in the Russell County Sheriff’s Office to assist, and the lawmen then carried out a search warrant at a residence associated with the still.
—Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 11 Jan. 2021
The pandemic also gave Eagle Park distiller Jordan Stielow time to fire up the still for spirits.
—Kathy Flanigan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1 July 2020
Lynskey responded on Twitter, noting that the image Curry included was from her cover shoot for InStyle magazine and not a still of her character in The Last of Us.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 9 Feb. 2023
The second post featured a still of Macaulay Culkin holding a BB gun as Kevin McCallister in Home Alone.
—Diane J. Cho, Peoplemag, 22 Aug. 2022
The wild ride that was Tuesday’s major league trading deadline suddenly and sharply gave way to a heaviness in the still of that night, when the Dodgers announced that Scully had died at 94.
—New York Times, 3 Aug. 2022
See More
Adjective
In the still image, the man is wearing a navy blue hooded sweatshirt and a navy and red beanie cap and is eating a bag of Doritos.
—Andi Babineau, CNN, 31 Jan. 2023
The case became national news, with outrage building until the local prosecutor’s office released a still image from a body camera that showed the woman, later reported to not be pregnant, had been clutching a gun.
—Chelsia Rose Marcius, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2023
The case became national news, with outrage building until the local prosecutor’s office released a still image from a body camera that showed the woman, later reported to not be pregnant, had been clutching a gun.
—Mitch Smith, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Jan. 2023
With only a few weeks to prepare for the Netflix film, Kerwin and hair department head Jaime Leigh McIntosh’s first day of production was a photo shoot creating the still images that would show Marilyn’s rise to fame throughout the film.
—Carita Rizzo, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Dec. 2022
In every Instagram-like reel section, users can click on a share button to create a still image of that Replay 2022 part.
—José Adorno, BGR, 29 Nov. 2022
Kemp then wandered the hallways at the school with the bouquet, according to a still image from a security camera at the school that is included in the court filing.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2022
Enables creators to easily create high-quality looping human animations, complete with realistic human movements, all from a still image.
—PCMAG, 21 Oct. 2022
Meta Video of a sea turtle, animated from a still image with Make-A-Video.
—Benj Edwards, Ars Technica, 29 Sep. 2022
Noun
The rats, who had drowned in a rainstorm, lay in artful counterpoint, as though posing for a still-life.
—Morgan Meis, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2023
Even with some dark overcast skies, the CarCam held up with slightly dimmer but still usable videos and stills.
—Hunter Fenollol, Popular Mechanics, 22 Feb. 2023
Police also shared a still of the car believed to be involved in the shooting.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2021
Agents brought in the Russell County Sheriff’s Office to assist, and the lawmen then carried out a search warrant at a residence associated with the still.
—Carol Robinson | Crobinson@al.com, al, 11 Jan. 2021
The pandemic also gave Eagle Park distiller Jordan Stielow time to fire up the still for spirits.
—Kathy Flanigan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 1 July 2020
Lynskey responded on Twitter, noting that the image Curry included was from her cover shoot for InStyle magazine and not a still of her character in The Last of Us.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 9 Feb. 2023
The second post featured a still of Macaulay Culkin holding a BB gun as Kevin McCallister in Home Alone.
—Diane J. Cho, Peoplemag, 22 Aug. 2022
The wild ride that was Tuesday’s major league trading deadline suddenly and sharply gave way to a heaviness in the still of that night, when the Dodgers announced that Scully had died at 94.
—New York Times, 3 Aug. 2022
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'still.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of still was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing still
Dictionary Entries Near still
Cite this Entry
“Still.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/still. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.
Kids Definition
still
3 of 5 adverb1
: 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 noun1
2
: a still photograph
still
5 of 5 noun1
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
More from Merriam-Webster on still
Nglish: Translation of still for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of still for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about still
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
-
- The business’s new computer system proved not to be a panacea.
Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?
PLAY
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Name That Flower
Can you tell the difference between a lilac and a...
Take the quiz
-
Are You Feeling Lucky?
A charming quiz about fortunate and unfortunate w...
Take the quiz
-
True or False?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something a...
Take the quiz
-
Spelling Bee Quiz
Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...
Take the quiz
Share