still
gb/stˈɪl/ us/stˈɪl/
A2
English
~ 200
Senses
0 senses
adverb
A2
relation
1
continuing without stopping
Used to say that something is happening or true now, even if it started before.
Usage pattern:
[subject] still [verb]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'still' and 'yet'. 'Still' is used in positive sentences to show continuation, while 'yet' is often used in negatives or questions.
Synonyms
yet (Often used in questions or negatives to mean 'up to now', but not as interchangeable in positive statements.)
Antonyms
no longer (Shows that something has stopped happening; opposite of continuing.)
Collocations
still waiting
|still going
|still alive
|still working
Themes
daily life
|time
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She is still waiting for his call.
- I still live in the same house where I was born.
- They are still discussing the proposal.
- It’s still raining after three hours.
- He still believes in Santa Claus.
Learner examples
- I still live with my parents.
- She is still at school.
- It is still cold outside.
- He still plays football every weekend.
adverb
A2
property
2
without moving or making noise
Not moving and not making any sound.
Usage pattern:
[verb] still
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'calm', which is about emotions, not physical movement.
Synonyms
motionless (Describes being completely without movement, more formal than 'still'.)
Antonyms
moving (Indicates motion, opposite of staying still.)
Collocations
stand still
|sit still
|keep still
Themes
daily life
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She stood still while the photographer adjusted the camera.
- The forest was completely still at dawn.
- Please sit still while I cut your hair.
Learner examples
- Please stand still for the photo.
- The baby is finally still.
- I sat still and listened.
adjective
A2
property
3
not moving; quiet
Not moving and not noisy.
Synonyms
quiet (Focuses on lack of noise; 'still' also includes lack of movement.)
Antonyms
noisy (Opposite in terms of sound, but not necessarily movement.)
Collocations
a still night
|the still water
Themes
nature
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The lake was perfectly still this morning.
- It was a still summer evening with no wind.
- The air inside was hot and still.
Learner examples
- The water is very still.
- The night is still and dark.
- The air is still today.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
4
apparatus for distilling liquids
A machine used to make alcohol by heating a liquid and collecting the steam.
Synonyms
distiller (Refers to a person or company; 'still' refers to the equipment.)
Collocations
whiskey still
|copper still
Themes
science
|food and drink
|food_drink
Examples
- The moonshiners hid their still deep in the woods.
- A copper still is used to make high-quality whiskey.
- They operated an illegal still during Prohibition.
Learner examples
- They use a copper still to make whiskey.
- The police found an illegal still.
- A still makes alcohol from liquid.
Verb
B2
action
5
make or become calm or quiet
To make something stop moving or making noise, or to stop yourself from doing so.
Usage pattern:
to still [something/someone]
Synonyms
calm ('Calm' often refers more to emotions; 'still' can refer to physical movement or noise as well.)
Antonyms
agitate (Means to disturb or excite, opposite of calming or quieting.)
Collocations
still the crowd
|still her fears
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He tried to still the crying baby.
- The teacher raised her hand to still the noisy class.
- A sudden look from her stilled him.
Learner examples
- She tried to still the baby.
- He stilled the horse with a touch.
- The noise was stilled by the rain.
Grammar
Dictionary form
still
IPA
GB/stˈɪl/
US/stˈɪl/
Syllables & stress
still (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (still)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: still
- Comparative: stiller
- Superlative: stillest
Noun
- Base: still
- Plural: stills
Verb
- Base: still
- 3rd Person Singular: stills
- Present Participle: stilling
- Past: stilled
Word family
Forms
stills
noun
stilling
verb
stilled
verb
stiller
adjective
stillest
adjective
Core family
stillness
noun B2
Related words
standstill
noun B2
Advanced or less common
distill
verb B2
distillery
noun B2
Expressions
hold still
1/hˈoʊld stˈɪl/
fixed phrase
stop moving for a short time
To stop moving so that something can be done.
Examples
- Hold still while I brush your hair.
- You need to hold still for the photograph.
keep still
1/kˈip stˈɪl/
fixed phrase
remain quiet and motionless
To not move or make any noise for some time.
Examples
- Keep still while I bandage your arm.
- We kept still and waited for help.
sit still
1/sˈɪt stˈɪl/
fixed phrase
stay seated without moving
To sit without making any movement.
Examples
- Please sit still while I take your picture.
- The child couldn’t sit still during the lesson.
stand still
1/stˈænd stˈɪl/
fixed phrase
stay standing without moving
To stand without making any movement.
Examples
- Stand still so I can fix your tie.
- He stood still when he saw the bear.
still life
1/stˈɪl lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
art showing objects, not people or scenes
A type of art that shows things like fruit, flowers, or dishes instead of people or places.
Examples
- She painted a beautiful still life of apples and grapes.
- Still life is one of his favorite subjects.