still

Not moving, or very calm and quiet.

• The air was still.
• Her hands stayed completely still.
• The lake looked still in the morning light.

How to use it: keep still (Please keep still while I take the photo.)

Similar words: motionless, calm, quiet

Opposites: moving

Common phrases: keep still, still air, still water

A drink with no bubbles of gas in it.

• I prefer still water.
• They serve both still and sparkling wines.
• Would you like a bottle of still mineral water?

Similar words: noncarbonated

Opposites: sparkling

Common phrases: still water, still wine

Continuing with the same quality over time.

• Her still affection survived their years apart.
• His still devotion comforted her through every difficulty.
• They admired her still patience in troubled times.

Similar words: constant, continuing, lasting

Common phrases: still devotion, still affection

Used when a situation continues from an earlier time.

• I still live here.
• The window is still broken.
• Does your brother still work at the hospital?

How to use it: still + verb (I still remember your first visit.); be + still + adjective (The shop is still open.)

Common phrases: still waiting, still here, still available, still raining

Used when something happens despite a difficulty or a reason against it.

• It is expensive, but I still want it.
• She was tired but still finished the race.
• The room is small. Still, the view is lovely.

How to use it: still, + clause (The journey was long. Still, we enjoyed it.)

Similar words: nevertheless, nonetheless, even so

Common phrases: but still, still try

Equipment that heats a liquid and collects its cooled vapor to make it purer or stronger.

• The whisky is made in a copper still.
• Steam rose from the old still.
• The distillery replaced its two largest stills.

Common phrases: copper still, whisky still

A time of deep quiet and calm.

• A bell rang through the still of night.
• We listened in the still of the forest.
• Her footsteps broke the still of the dawn.

How to use it: the still of something (A bird called in the still of the morning.)

Similar words: silence, quiet, calm

Common phrases: the still, still of night

To make someone or something calmer or quieter.

• She stilled the crying child.
• He breathed deeply to still his racing heart.
• The music stilled our fears for a moment.

How to use it: still something (Her gentle voice stilled my fears.)

Similar words: calm, quiet, silence

Opposites: agitate

Common phrases: still something, still the noise