still

¹

[ stil ]

adjective

, still·er, still·est.

1. remaining in place or at rest; motionless; stationary:

   to stand still.

   Synonyms: quiescent, inert, unmoving

2. free from sound or noise, as a place or persons; silent:

   to keep still about a matter.

   Synonyms: mute, soundless

3. subdued or low in sound; hushed:

   a still, small voice.

4. free from turbulence or commotion; peaceful; tranquil; calm:

   the still air.

   Synonyms: serene, placid, pacific

5. without waves or perceptible current; not flowing, as water.
6. not effervescent or sparkling, as wine.
7. Photography. noting, pertaining to, or used for making single photographs, as opposed to a motion picture.

noun

1. stillness or silence:

   the still of the night.

   Synonyms: calm, hush, quiet, stillness

2. Photography. a single photographic print, as one of the frames of a motion-picture film.

adverb

1. at this or that time; as previously:

   Are you still here?

2. up to this or that time; as yet:

   A day before departure we were still lacking an itinerary.

3. in the future as in the past:

   Objections will still be made.

4. even; in addition; yet (used to emphasize a comparative):

   still more complaints; still greater riches.

5. even then; yet; nevertheless:

   to be rich and still crave more.

6. without sound or movement; quietly:

   Sit still!

7. at or to a greater distance or degree.
8. Archaic. steadily; constantly; always.

conjunction

1. and yet; but yet; nevertheless:

   It was futile, still they fought.

verb (used with object)

1. to silence or hush (sounds, voices, etc.).

   Synonyms: muffle, stifle, mute, quiet

2. to calm, appease, or allay:

   to still a craving.

   Synonyms: pacify, soothe

3. to quiet, subdue, or cause to subside (waves, winds, commotion, tumult, passion, pain, etc.).

verb (used without object)

1. to become still or quiet.

still

²

[ stil ]

noun

1. a distilling apparatus, consisting of a vessel in which a liquid is heated and vaporized and a cooling device or coil for condensing the vapor.
2. a distillery.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to distill.

Still

³

[ stil ]

noun

1. Andrew Taylor, 1828–1917, U.S. founder of osteopathy.
2. William Grant, 1895–1978, U.S. composer.

still

¹

/ stɪl /

adjective

1. usually predicative motionless; stationary
2. undisturbed or tranquil; silent and calm
3. not sparkling or effervescent

   a still wine

4. gentle or quiet; subdued
5. obsolete.
   (of a child) dead at birth

adverb

1. continuing now or in the future as in the past

   do you still love me?

2. up to this or that time; yet

   I still don't know your name

3. often used with a comparative even or yet

   still more insults

4. quiet or without movement

   sit still

5. poetic.
   always

noun

1. poetic.
   silence or tranquillity

   the still of the night

2. 1. a still photograph, esp of a scene from a motion-picture film
   2. ( as modifier )

      a still camera

verb

1. to make or become still, quiet, or calm
2. tr to allay or relieve

   her fears were stilled

sentence connector

1. even then; nevertheless

   the child has some new toys and still cries

still

²

/ stɪl /

noun

1. an apparatus for carrying out distillation, consisting of a vessel in which a mixture is heated, a condenser to turn the vapour back to liquid, and a receiver to hold the distilled liquid, used esp in the manufacture of spirits
2. a place where spirits are made; distillery

Derived Forms

• ˈstillness, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of still¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English adjective and adverb still(e), Old English stille; Middle English noun stille “calm (after a storm),” derivative of the adjective; Middle English verb stillen, stil(le) “to be, fall, or remain silent,” Old English stillan; conjunction derivative of the adverb; akin to German still (adjective), stille (adverb), stillen (verb), Dutch stil (adjective and adverb), stillen (verb); stall ¹

Origin of still²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English verb stillen, variant of distillen to distill

Word History and Origins

Origin of still¹

Old English stille; related to Old Saxon, Old High German stilli, Dutch stollen to curdle, Sanskrit sthānús immobile

Origin of still²

C16: from Old French stiller to drip, from Latin stillāre, from stilla a drip; see distil

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. still and all, nonetheless; even with everything considered:

   Even though you dislike us, still and all you should be polite.

More idioms and phrases containing still

• heart misses a beat (stands still)
• hold still
• jury is still out
• keep quiet (still)
• quiet (still) as a mouse

Synonym Study

Still, quiet, hushed, noiseless, silent indicate the absence of noise and of excitement or activity accompanied by sound. Still indicates the absence of sound or movement: The house was still. Quiet implies relative freedom from noise, activity, or excitement: a quiet engine; a quiet vacation. Hushed implies the suppression of sound or noise: a hushed whisper. Noiseless and silent characterize that which does not reveal its presence or movement by any sound: a noiseless footstep; silent dissent.

Example Sentences

Domestically, the prime minister maintains the dubious line that he is the only man who can keep the still-fragile peace.

From The Daily Beast

Genetics alone does not an eating disorder make, generally speaking, and Bulik points out that environment still plays a role.

From The Daily Beast

Many young people are still shedding the ignorance of our parents.

From The Daily Beast

Drugeon survived an airstrike last year and is believed to be still at large, officials have said.

From The Daily Beast

That fantasy, however, is still heavily regimented by all sorts of norms.

From The Daily Beast

Joe looked at her with a smile, his face still solemn and serious for all its youth and the fires of new-lit hope behind his eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

The aged woman made no reply; her eyes still studied Ramona's face, and she still held her hand.

From Project Gutenberg

As there are still many varieties of the plant grown in America, so there doubtless was when cultivated by the Indians.

From Project Gutenberg

"Better so," was the Senora's sole reply; and she fell again into still deeper, more perplexed thought about the hidden treasure.

From Project Gutenberg

Few people, I think, realize that, and fewer still realize the reasonable consequences of that.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• as yet
• so far
• thus far
• until now
• up to now
• yet

When To Use

What are other ways to say still?

The conjunction still means “and yet” or “but yet.” Do you know when to use still versus but, nevertheless, however, and yet? Find out on Thesaurus.com.