Meaning & use
still
Last updated
Meanings
adverbnot comparable
Continuing up to now or to the time being discussed, without having stopped.
Grammar: Goes before the main verb, after be: she still lives here.
Patterns
- still do something
- be still doing something
She still lives in the town where she was born.
Are you still waiting for the bus?
It was still raining when we left.
adverbnot comparable
Even so; in spite of what was just said.
Grammar: Often starts a clause or follows a comma.
The test was hard; still, she passed.
It was cold, but they still went swimming.
adjectivecomparable
Not moving, or without any activity, sound or disturbance.
Grammar: Can follow be, stay or keep: stay still.
Patterns
- stand still
- keep still
- a still night
Keep still while I take the photo.
The lake was perfectly still.
It was a still evening with no wind.
adjectivebefore a nounBritish
Not fizzy; used of drinks without bubbles.
Grammar: Often used for water: still water.
Patterns
- still water
I'll have still water, please.
The cafe sells still and sparkling lemonade.
nouncountable
A single photograph taken from a film or video.
Grammar: Used in film and photography.
Patterns
- a still from something
The magazine ran a still from the new movie.
She framed a still of her favorite scene.
nouncountable
A device for making strong alcoholic drinks by distilling.
Grammar: Often linked with whiskey.
The distillery has a copper still.
Police found an illegal still in the barn.
Word forms
| comparative | stiller |
|---|---|
| superlative | stillest |
| plural | stills |
Common combinations
- stand still
- The children couldn't stand still.
- still water
- Still water runs deep.
- still alive
- The plant is still alive.
- hold still
- Hold still while I fix your collar.
Synonyms and how they differ
- yet
- Used mostly in negatives and questions, unlike still.
- motionless
- Stronger and more formal for not moving.
- nevertheless
- A formal word for in spite of that.
- calm
- Adds peaceful feeling, not only lack of movement.
Opposites
Word family
- stillness noun
- quiet and lack of movement
- stillborn adjective
- born dead
Commonly confused: still or yet?
still vs yet
Still means continuing; yet in negatives means up to now: not still done is wrong, use not done yet.
Practice
I left my phone on the table an hour ago, and it's ___ there.
Choose one answer.
Still shows it continues to be there. Yet is for negatives and questions, and already means sooner than expected.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “still”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.