Adverb Adjective Noun Verb A2 — Elementary /stɪl/

Still — Definition, Examples & Usage

Continuing up to now, perfectly calm, or frozen in a single frame — one small word with four different jobs.

Quick Definition

Still (adverb) — continuing to happen, be true, or exist up to the present time: "She is still learning irregular verbs after two months of study."

Still (adjective) — not moving; calm and silent: "The lake was completely still in the early morning."

Still (noun) — a single photograph from a film or video; also a piece of apparatus used for distilling spirits.

Still (verb, formal) — to make something calm or quiet: "She tried to still her racing thoughts."

What Does Still Mean?

Still descends from Old English stille meaning "motionless, calm, gentle", related to the Proto-Germanic root *stiljaz. The same root gives Dutch stil and German still — both meaning quiet or calm. The adverbial sense of "continuing up to this time" developed in Middle English around the 14th century, making still one of the most versatile small words in the language.

As an adverb, still is one of the most common words in English and is essential for talking about ongoing actions, situations that have lasted longer than expected, and comparisons. It sits comfortably at A2 level for the basic adverb use, but mastering its precise position in a sentence and its contrast with yet, already, and anymore takes learners to B2 and beyond.

As an adjective, still describes a complete absence of movement or sound — a still pond, still air, still water. It is also the key word in still life, the artistic genre depicting arranged inanimate objects. The noun use (a still from a film) and the formal verb use (to still one's fears) are less frequent but appear regularly in journalism and literary writing.

Example Sentences

SentenceLevelUsage note
She is still learning irregular verbs after two months of study. A2 adverb — action continuing up to now
The children sat still while the teacher read the story aloud. B1 adjective used predicatively — not moving
He still hasn't received his exam results, even though they were due last week. B1 adverb in negative sentence — before auxiliary
The documentary used archive footage and stills from the original production. B2 noun (plural) — photographs from a film
Despite the noise outside, she managed to still her anxious mind and focus on the task. C1 verb — to calm or quieten

Collocations

CollocationPart of speechExample in context
stand stillverb phraseThe photographer asked everyone to stand still.
keep stillverb phraseThe nurse told the child to keep still during the injection.
hold stillverb phraseHold still — there's something in your hair.
perfectly stilladverb + adjectiveThe surface of the water was perfectly still.
still wateradjective + nounShe preferred still water to sparkling water.
still aliveadverb + adjectiveRemarkably, the patient was still alive after six hours.
still lifenoun phrase (art)He painted a still life of fruit and flowers.
still waitingadverb + participleWe are still waiting for the delivery to arrive.
time stands stillfixed expressionIn moments of great joy, time seems to stand still.
still and quietadjective pairThe house was still and quiet long before midnight.

Usage Notes

Position matters: As an adverb meaning "continuing", still goes between the subject and the main verb: "I still work there." With auxiliary verbs, place it after the first auxiliary: "She is still waiting." In negative sentences, still comes before the negative auxiliary for emphasis: "He still hasn't called."

Still vs yet: Both words indicate an ongoing or expected situation, but yet is used in questions and negative statements without the sense of surprise: "Has she arrived yet? / She hasn't arrived yet." Using still in a negative sentence ("She still hasn't arrived") adds a tone of surprise or mild impatience.

Still vs anymore / any longer: Anymore and any longer are used in negatives to say something has stopped: "I don't live there anymore." Still says it is continuing: "I still live there."

Register: The verb sense ("to still something") is formal or literary. In everyday speech, use calm, quieten, or settle instead.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

She works still here after ten years.

She still works here after ten years.

Still as an adverb of continuation goes before the main verb, not after it.

I didn't finish my homework still.

I still haven't finished my homework. / I haven't finished my homework yet.

In negative sentences, still goes before the auxiliary verb. At the end of the sentence, use yet instead.

The water was very still and didn't move at all — it was completely still water.

Still water (adjective before a noun) usually means non-carbonated water in a commercial context. Say "the water was perfectly still" to describe the absence of movement.

Still water as a product term means non-sparkling; still as a descriptive adjective means motionless. Context makes the difference.

Related Words

yet already calm quiet anymore always continue remain

Synonyms

motionless (adj) stationary (adj) calm (adj) tranquil (adj) as yet (adv) to this day (adv) even now (adv)

Antonyms

moving (adj) restless (adj) turbulent (adj) no longer (adv) anymore (adv)

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “still”

What does still mean in English?
Still has several meanings depending on its part of speech. As an adverb, it means 'continuing to happen or be true up to the present time': 'She is still learning.' As an adjective, it means 'not moving or making a sound': 'The lake was completely still.' As a noun, it can mean a single photograph taken from a film, or a device used to distil alcohol. As a formal verb, it means to make something calm: 'He tried to still his nerves.'
Is still an adverb or an adjective?
Still is most commonly used as an adverb, where it modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to show that something continues: 'I still live here.' It is also used as an adjective to describe something that is not moving or is silent: 'a still pond', 'still water'. Both uses are very common in everyday British English.
Where does still go in a sentence?
As an adverb meaning 'continuing', still is placed between the subject and main verb: 'She still works here.' With auxiliary verbs, it goes after the first auxiliary: 'He is still waiting.' In negative sentences, still comes before the auxiliary: 'She still hasn't arrived.' Placing still at the end of the sentence is less common but possible for emphasis.
What is the difference between still and yet?
Still and yet both refer to an ongoing or expected situation, but they are used differently. Still emphasises that a situation has continued longer than expected: 'He is still not ready.' Yet is used in questions and negatives to ask about or deny something that is expected: 'He isn't ready yet.' Still often implies surprise or mild frustration, whereas yet is more neutral.
What is the difference between still and already?
Still suggests a situation is continuing, often longer than expected: 'I am still waiting.' Already suggests something has happened sooner than expected or before a reference point: 'She has already finished.' These two adverbs are often confused by ESL learners because they both relate to time, but they communicate opposite ideas.
What does still mean as a noun?
As a noun, still has two meanings. The first is a single photograph taken from a motion picture or video, often used in film and TV journalism: 'a still from the new movie'. The second is a piece of apparatus used for distilling spirits such as whisky: 'a copper still'. Both noun uses are specific to particular contexts.
What are common collocations with still?
Common adverb collocations include: still waiting, still working, still alive, still learning, still trying, stand still, keep still, and hold still. Common adjective collocations include: still water, still air, still night, and perfectly still. The phrase 'still life' is also important in art, referring to a painting of inanimate objects.
What is the origin of the word still?
Still comes from Old English 'stille', meaning 'motionless, calm, gentle', related to the verb 'stillan' (to calm, to quieten). The Germanic root is connected to Dutch 'stil' and German 'still', all meaning quiet or calm. The adverbial sense of 'continuing up to this time' developed in Middle English around the 14th century.
What are the most common mistakes with still?
The most common mistakes are: placing still in the wrong position ('She works still here' instead of 'She still works here'); confusing still with yet ('She didn't arrive still' instead of 'She still hasn't arrived' or 'She hasn't arrived yet'); and using still in positive sentences where already is needed ('I still finished' instead of 'I have already finished').
How can I practise using still in English?
Try LexFizz's Complete the Sentence exercise to practise still in context, or use Flash Cards to test your knowledge of still alongside related adverbs such as yet, already, and anymore. Listening to natural British English conversations is also highly effective for learning the natural rhythm and position of still in a sentence.