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

But this was still the most inexperienced Wales team in seven years with a meagre combined total of just 214 caps.

From BBC

Here’s why: If the world is still around in some way, shape or form, having more money will be a good thing.

From Salon

Even still, Sonny kept his wife in a kind of constant, isolated motion.

From Salon

"I think there is absolutely still stigma attached to it," Mercer told Salon in a phone interview.

From Salon

I still think we lost way too many people.

From Salon

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.