still

still

I

still¹ S1 W1 /stɪl/ adverb
1. up to a particular point in time and continuing at that moment:
    I still haven’t finished painting the spare room.
    Do you still have Julie’s phone number?
  GRAMMAR
    Still usually comes before the verb, unless the verb is a simple tense of ‘be’, or after the first auxiliary:
   ▪ The system still works.
   ▪ It was still dark outside.
   ▪ I can still remember them.
    Still usually comes before any negative word or before 'do not':
   ▪ She still isn’t ready.
   ▪ They still can’t decide.
   ▪ I’m still not tired.
   ▪ We still do not know exactly what happened.
    ► Do not say 'still now':
   ▪ Inflation is still (NOT still now) a problem.
2. in spite of what has just been said or done:
    Clare didn’t do much work, but she still passed the exam.
   [sentence adverb]
    The hotel was terrible. Still, we were lucky with the weather.
3. still more/further/another/other used to emphasize that something increases more, there is more of something etc:
    Kevin grew still more depressed.
4. better/harder/worse etc still (also still better/harder/worse etc) even better, harder etc than something else:
    Dan found biology difficult, and physics harder still.

II

still² S3 adjective1. not moving:
    We stood still and watched as the deer came closer.
    Keep still while I tie your shoe.
    the still waters of the lake
2. quiet and calm:
    The house was completely still.
3. not windy:
    a hot still day
4. British English a still drink does not contain gas:
    still or sparkling mineral water
5. still waters run deep used to say that someone who is quiet may have very strong feelings or a lot of knowledge
—stillness noun [uncountable]:
    Somewhere in the stillness of the night, an owl hooted.

III

still³ noun [countable]1. a photograph of a scene from a film
2. a piece of equipment for making alcoholic drinks from grain or potatoes
3. the still of the night/evening etc literary the calm and quiet of the night etc

IV

still⁴ verb literary
1. [intransitive and transitive] to stop moving, or make something stop moving:
    The ground beneath them trembled, then stilled.
2. [intransitive and transitive] if a noise stills or is stilled, it stops:
    The murmurs stilled.
    He stilled their protests with a wave of his hands.
3. [transitive] if a doubt or fear is stilled, it becomes weaker or goes away
     

THESAURUS

■ not moving
   ▪ still not moving – use this especially about people who are not moving, or about places where there is no wind: There was no wind and the trees were completely still. | Keep still while I tie your shoes.
   ▪ stationary not moving – use this about cars, trains, or objects: The truck swerved and hit a stationary vehicle.
   ▪ immobile not moving or not able to move, especially because of fear or tiredness: As the disease progressed, she became increasingly immobile.
   ▪ motionless completely still – used especially in literature: Kemp sat motionless as the verdict was read.
   ▪ calm not moving because there is no wind – use this about air and water: The lake was calm.
   ▪ be at a standstill if traffic is at a standstill it is not moving: Traffic was at a standstill on the motorway.