If a situation that used to exist still exists, it has continued and exists now.
I still dream of home.
Brian's toe is still badly swollen and he cannot put on his shoe.
If you don't like the job, why are you still there?
There are still doubts about the final signing of the two treaties.
Synonyms: yet, even now, up until now, up to this time More Synonyms of still
2. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
If something that has not yet happened could still happen, it is possible that it will happen. If something that has not yet happened is stillto happen, it will happen at a later time.
Big money could still be made if the crisis keeps oil prices high.
We could still make it, but we won't get there till three.
The details have still to be worked out.
Still to come, the financial news and the weather at a quarter to two.
3. adverb
If you say that there is still an amount of something left, you are emphasizing that there is that amount left.
Bardi coloured the milk with the slightest touch of coffee, of which there was stillplenty.
There are still some outstanding problems.
There's still time to catch up with them.
4. adverb [ADVERB before verb]
You use still to emphasize that something remains the case or is true in spite of what you have just said.
I'm taller than average. I still wish I was taller though.
Despite the ruling, Boreham was still found guilty.
5. adverb
You use still to indicate that a problem or difficulty is not really worth worrying about.
Their luck had simply run out. Still, never fear.
'Any idea who is going to be here this weekend?'—'No. Still, who cares?'
6. adverb
You use still in expressions such as still further, still another, and still more to show that you find the number or quantity of things you are referring to surprising or excessive.
[emphasis]
We look forward to strengthening still further our already close co-operation.
Why did the bank not conduct its own audit before lending still more?
7. adverb
You use still with comparatives to indicate that something has even more of a quality than somethingelse.
[emphasis]
Formula One motor car racing is supposed to be dangerous. 'Indycar' racing is supposedto be more dangerous still.
More Synonyms of still
still not moving or making a noise
(stɪl)
Word forms: comparative stiller, superlative stillest, plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, plural stills, present participle stilling, past tense, past participle stilled
1. adjective [ADJECTIVE after verb, verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you stay still, you stay in the same position and do not move.
Suddenly he stood still and looked at Brad.
He played the recording through once, then sat very still for several minutes.
He recalled her still face and the hurt in her eyes when he had refused her help.
Gladys was still, then she shook her head slowly.
Synonyms: motionless, stationary, at rest, calm More Synonyms of still
2. adjective
If air or water is still, it is not moving.
The night air was very still.
He watched the still water over the side of the boat.
Synonyms: silent, quiet, hushed, noiseless More Synonyms of still
3. adjective
Drinks that are still do not contain any bubbles of carbon dioxide.
...a glass of still orange.
4. adjective
If a place is still, it is quiet and shows no sign of activity.
In the room it was very still.
stillnessuncountable noun
Four deafening explosions shattered the stillness of the night air. [+ of]
5. ergative verb
If a sound stills or is stilled, it becomes quiet.
[literary]
Her crying slowly stilled. [VERB]
The roar of the crowd stilled to an expectant murmur. [VERB]
The people's voice has been stilled. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: quieten, calm, subdue, settle More Synonyms of still
6. countable noun
A still is a photograph taken from a cinema film which is used for publicity purposes.
still equipment
(stɪl)
Word forms: plural stills
countable noun
A still is a piece of equipment used to make strong alcoholic drinks by a process called distilling.
still in British English1
(stɪl)
adjective
1. (usually predicative)
motionless; stationary
2.
undisturbed or tranquil; silent and calm
3.
not sparkling or effervescent
a still wine
4.
gentle or quiet; subdued
5. obsolete
(of a child) dead at birth
adverb
6.
continuing now or in the future as in the past
do you still love me?
7.
up to this or that time; yet
I still don't know your name
8. (often used with a comparative)
even or yet
still more insults
9.
quiet or without movement
sit still
10. poetic, dialect
always
noun
11. poetic
silence or tranquillity
the still of the night
12.
a.
a still photograph, esp of a scene from a motion-picture film
b.
(as modifier)
a still camera
verb
13.
to make or become still, quiet, or calm
14. (transitive)
to allay or relieve
her fears were stilled
sentence connector
15.
even then; nevertheless
the child has some new toys and still cries
Derived forms
stillness (ˈstillness)
noun
Word origin
Old English stille; related to Old Saxon, Old High German stilli, Dutch stollen to curdle, Sanskrit sthānús immobile
still in British English2
(stɪl)
noun
1.
an apparatus for carrying out distillation, consisting of a vessel in which a mixture is heated, a condenser to turn the vapour back to liquid, and a receiver to hold the distilled liquid, used esp in the manufacture of spirits
2.
a place where spirits are made; distillery
Word origin
C16: from Old French stiller to drip, from Latin stillāre, from stilla a drip; see distil
still in American English1
(stɪl)
adjective
1.
without sound; quiet; silent
2.
hushed, soft, or low in sound
3.
not moving; stationary; at rest; motionless
following stand, sit, lie, etc., sometimes regarded as an adverb
4.
characterized by little or no commotion or agitation; tranquil; calm; serene
the still water of the lake
5.
not effervescent or bubbling
said of wine
6. Cinema
designating or of a single posed photograph or a photograph made from a single frame of a filmed sequence or scene, for use as in publicity
noun
7.
silence; quiet
in the still of the night
8. Cinema
a still photograph
adverb
9.
at or up to the time indicated, whether past, present, or future
10.
even; yet
used as an intensifier with a comparative form, etc.
cold yesterday, but still colder today
11.
nevertheless; even then [rich but still unhappy]; often used as a conjunctive adverb [he failed; still, he never stopped trying]
12. Archaic
ever; constantly
verb transitive
13.
to make still; quiet
; specif.,
a.
to make silent
b.
to make motionless
c.
to calm; relieve
verb intransitive
14.
to become still
Idioms:
still and all
Derived forms
stillness (ˈstillness)
noun
Word origin
ME < OE stille, akin to Ger still < IE *stelnu- < base *stel-, to place, set up, standing, immobile > stalk1, stall2, L locus, place, Gr stēlē, a post
still in American English2
(stɪl)
noun
1.
an apparatus used for distilling liquids, esp. alcoholic liquors
2.
distillery
verb transitive, verb intransitive
3.
to distill
4. Dialectal
to distill (alcoholic liquor) illegally
Word origin
< obs. still, to distill < L stillare, to drop, drip, trickle < stilla, a drop < *stir(a)la, dim. of stiria, a drop: see stone
More idioms containing
still
the jury is still out
still waters run deep
Examples of 'still' in a sentence
still
When roles dried up she still wanted to be the centre of attention.
The Sun (2010)
The crowd was still there the next day as we left to catch our flight home.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
So much so that people still endlessly share their images and quotes today.
The Sun (2014)
So why were they still harking back to historic rivalries?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Victims lucky enough to be found alive still have to be dug out.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We ended up in bed and realised we still love one another.
The Sun (2014)
You probably still feel the need to talk about your husband to people who knew him.
Shapiro, Jean Get the Best out of the Rest of Your Life (1990)
What will happen then is still unclear.
The Sun (2012)
This time caution is still in the air.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Yet you still cannot hide the fact it was a great strike.
The Sun (2007)
This is a nation still getting used to outsiders.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But a minority still hold views that would disgust their neighbours.
The Sun (2015)
This way you can send it back and forth between the studios and still make a song.
The Sun (2010)
It is probably best to go for still rather than sparkling brands.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The publicity would still be there and people would still be writing about us.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Trading standards officers warned that convenience stores may still be selling products which have been withdrawn.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We were companions because we had been together so long and still cared about each other.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
You can say no to unfair requests and still stay on good terms with people.
The Sun (2008)
The desire to succeed must still be strong.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
So how do you avoid that danger while still trying to come off as natural and conversational?
Christianity Today (2000)
You might not have to make further payments but would still keep any goods you have bought.
The Sun (2009)
Instead still photographs and an audio recording were released to media organisations.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The cameras were still rolling as search and rescue dinghies raced to the scene to rescue stricken crew members.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That film is still with us.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
still
British English: still /stɪl/ ADJECTIVE
If you are still, you are not moving.
Please stand still.
American English: still
Arabic: سَاكِن
Brazilian Portuguese: imóvel
Chinese: 静止的
Croatian: nepomičan
Czech: nehybný
Danish: stille
Dutch: stil onbeweeglijk
European Spanish: quieto
Finnish: liikkumaton
French: calme
German: regungslos
Greek: ακίνητος
Italian: fermo immobile
Japanese: 静かな
Korean: 움직이지 않는
Norwegian: stille
Polish: cichy
European Portuguese: imóvel
Romanian: nemișcat
Russian: неподвижный
Latin American Spanish: quieto
Swedish: lugn
Thai: นิ่ง
Turkish: durgun
Ukrainian: нерухомий
Vietnamese: yên
British English: still /stɪl/ ADVERB
If a situation still exists, it has continued and exists now.
I still dream of home.
American English: still
Arabic: لا يَزالُ
Brazilian Portuguese: ainda
Chinese: 仍然
Croatian: još uvijek
Czech: stále
Danish: stadig
Dutch: nog
European Spanish: todavía positivo
Finnish: yhä
French: encore
German: immer noch
Greek: ακόμη
Italian: ancora
Japanese: まだ
Korean: 아직
Norwegian: stille
Polish: wciąż
European Portuguese: ainda
Romanian: încă
Russian: неизменно
Latin American Spanish: todavía
Swedish: ännu
Thai: ยังคง
Turkish: hala
Ukrainian: все ще
Vietnamese: vẫn
All related terms of 'still'
pot still
a type of still used in distilling whisky in which heat is applied directly to the pot in which the wash is contained
hold still
If you hold still , you do not move.
solar still
any system for the purification of salt water in which a shallow pool of salt water evaporates within a greenhouselike structure, causing the formation on the ceiling of droplets of fresh water, which drip down into collection pools
stand still
to remain motionless
still alarm
a fire alarm given by telephone or by any means other than the regular signal device
still frame
continuous display of a single frame of a film or of a single picture from a television signal
still hunt
the hunting of game by stalking or ambushing
still life
A still life is a painting or drawing of an arrangement of objects such as flowers or fruit. It also refers to this type of painting or drawing.
still lifes
paintings or drawings of inanimate objects
still water
a part of a stream that is level or where the level of inclination is so slight that no current is visible
still wine
any nonsparkling table wine
stock still
If someone stands or sits stock-still , they do not move at all.
Higher Still
a system of post-Standard Grade qualifications offered at five levels including Higher and Advanced Higher
patent still
a type of still in which the distillation is continuous
still and all
nevertheless
still photograph
a photograph taken from a cinema film which is used for publicity purposes
much less
You use much less after a statement , often a negative one, to indicate that the statement is more true of the person, thing, or situation that you are going to mention next .
still waters run deep
said to mean that someone who seems to be unemotional or who is hard to get to know is in fact interesting and complex
the jury is still out
said to mean that people have not yet formed an opinion about something or reached a decision
Chinese translation of 'still'
still
(stɪl)
adj
[person, hands]不动(動)的 (bùdòng de)
⇒ He sat very still for several minutes.他一动也不动地坐了几分钟。 (Tā yī dòng yě bù dòng de zuòle jǐ fēnzhōng.)
⇒ His hands were never still.他双手从不停歇。 (Tā shuāngshǒu cóngbù tíngxiē.)