1
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 there
drink 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)
Examples of still in a Sentence
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.
Verb (1)
it seemed as though nothing could still the fighting
reading a book helps me to relax and still my mind before going to bed
the conversation was abruptly stilled by a loud crash from the next room
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
Noun (1)
in the still of the forest he could relax and forget his worries
a loud noise shattered the still of the night
Recent Examples on the Web
Carol Besler, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024
Through the subwoofer, the warm, rich strains of the cello vibrated in the still air of my living room.
—Adrienne So, WIRED, 1 Apr. 2020
William Mullane, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
It’s believed McGregor, Attar and Austin still own a portion of the brand—though how much hasn’t been disclosed by Becle.
—Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 27 Nov. 2024
Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 30 Oct. 2024
Not tourist snaps so much as stills from a spy movie that would never be made: my own personal version of John le Carré’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
—Chris Wallace, Travel + Leisure, 16 Oct. 2024
Emily Palmer, People.com, 3 Nov. 2024
Maybe Wade moved too fluidly to ever be stilled in bronze.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for still 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
The dial is rendered in grand feu enamel in a way that creates an optical illusion as the watch moves – the idea is to create the effect of a raindrop falling on the still surface of a pond, with ripples radiating out from the seconds sub-dial.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024
Through the subwoofer, the warm, rich strains of the cello vibrated in the still air of my living room.
—Adrienne So, WIRED, 1 Apr. 2020
Adverb
Even today, many of the world’s biggest banks still use decades-old systems like FIS, Infosys Finacle, and Temenos T24.
—William Mullane, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
It’s believed McGregor, Attar and Austin still own a portion of the brand—though how much hasn’t been disclosed by Becle.
—Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 27 Nov. 2024
Noun
Video stills show Phoenix police holding Michael Kenyon on the ground.
—Cara Tabachnick, CBS News, 30 Oct. 2024
Not tourist snaps so much as stills from a spy movie that would never be made: my own personal version of John le Carré’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.
—Chris Wallace, Travel + Leisure, 16 Oct. 2024
Verb
The two – who were taller and bigger than Avila, who weighed just 97 lbs. – then forced her into a shallow creek, tied her hands behind her back, gagged her and forced her head under the water until her body stilled.
—Emily Palmer, People.com, 3 Nov. 2024
Maybe Wade moved too fluidly to ever be stilled in bronze.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for still
Dictionary Entries Near still
Cite this Entry
“Still.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/still. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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