still

still¹ W1S1 [stıl] adv

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?

see usage note ↑yet¹

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.

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WORD CHOICE: still, always

Use still to say that a previous situation has not changed, and is continuing at the time of speaking : He still lives (NOT always lives) with his parents. | They still haven't sold their house. | I still get upset when I think about it.

Always means 'all the time' or 'every time' : I always see him on Tuesdays.

GRAMMAR

Still usually comes before the verb, or before the main verb if there is an auxiliary : She still calls me regularly. | Is he still crying? |I can still remember them.

!! Still comes after the verb 'be' : It was still dark outside. | You are still my best friend.

!! Still usually comes before any negative word : She still isn't ready. | I'm still not tired. | They still can't decide.

!! Do not say 'still now' : I still think (NOT still now think) he's the best player ever.

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still ²

still² adj

[: Old English; Origin: stille]

1.) 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.) BrE 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 n [U]

▪ Somewhere in the stillness of the night an owl hooted.

still ³

still³ n

[Sense: 1,3; Date: 1600-1700; Origin: STILL²]

[Sense: 2; Date: 1500-1600; Origin: distill]

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

still ⁴

still⁴ v literary

1.) [I and T]

to stop moving or make something stop moving

▪ The ground beneath them trembled, then stilled.

2.) [I and T]

if a noise stills or is stilled, it stops

▪ The murmurs stilled.

▪ He stilled their protests with a wave of his hands.

3.) [I]

if a doubt or fear is stilled, it becomes weaker or goes away