to still

Examples

• All

• She tried to still the anxious dogs by speaking softly to them.

• The teacher asked the students to still their chatter before beginning the lesson.

• So you get still, be still, and know the answer will come.

• Put your hand in the hand of the man Who stilled the water.

  Prisoners (2013)

• Suddenly, the racing panic in his heart stilled; a crystal clarity of vision came over him.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Burroughs starts to make an objection, but Crawford stills him with a hand motion.

  Fiction book (1991)

• "Her smile was still genuine, but a wisp of sadness stilled her sparkle."

  Fiction book (1991)

• To calm her racing thoughts, she took a deep breath and focused on stilling her mind.

Synonyms

S

to shut up

vsto still

• Offensive

∞ 4.1

Tell someone to be quiet in a rude or angry way

is a calmative action rather than a rude command to be silent

C

to calm

vsto still

∞ 1.0

Make a person or animal less upset

focuses more on stopping noise or motion rather than emotion

C

to calm down

vsto still

• Informal

989 1.4

To become less angry, excited, or upset

is used for soothing physical movement or sound, not emotion

S

to settle

vsto still

729 2.8

To become calm and still after movement or excitement

can also mean to make quiet or stop motion intentionally

Q

to quiet

vsto still

257 3.2

To make someone or something calm and less noisy

also stops physical movement and soothes beyond noise reduction

S

to silence

vsto still

177 3.5

To stop someone from speaking or making noise

is gentler, aiming to soothe or bring peaceful stillness

H

to hush

vsto still

149 3.4

Make a person or thing quiet so others stop making noise

is more general, also meaning to soothe or make motionless

L

to lull

vsto still

28 5.2

To make someone feel calm and safe when they are not

normally soothes to stop sound or motion without deception

H

to hush up

vsto still

• Informal

20 5.0

Make someone stop talking and be quiet

is about calming or stopping noise rather than concealing speech

Q

to quieten

vsto still

3 4.6

Make someone or something less noisy and calmer

also causes motionless calm not only lowering sound

Antonyms

M

to move

∞ 1.0

Change position or place

A

to agitate

14 4.8

To make people feel strongly excited or upset

Idioms

B

be still my heart

• Informal

4 9.9

To feel very excited and moved by something you like

S

still green

• Informal

2 5.2

A person who is new and not yet experienced in a job or field

Phrasal Verbs

S

to stand still

119 1.0

Stay upright in one place without moving

S

to sit still

75 1.0

Stay seated without moving

S

to still-hunt

• Jargon

1 9.8

To move quietly and try to catch an animal by surprise

H

to hold still for

• Informal

1 7.5

Allow something unpleasant without complaining

Compounds

S

still life

17 3.7

A painting of arranged objects like fruit or flowers

S

still water

8 1.4

Calm water in a lake or pond with no waves

S

stock-still

2 6.2

Not moving at all

S

still room

• Archaic

1 9.9

A small room near the kitchen where drinks and preserves are made and stored

S

still water

1 1.2

Water without bubbles that people drink from bottles

S

still hunt

• Jargon

1 8.1

A way of hunting where the hunter moves very quietly or waits in one spot to surprise animals

C

Coffey still

• Specialized

1 9.6

A machine that runs without stopping to separate alcohol from fermented grain or fruit to make spirits like whisky

How Quiet

to silence

177 3.5

to hush

149 3.4

to quiet

257 3.2

to still

18 4.2

to calm

∞ 1.0

to soothe

75 3.4

Surface Forms

Etymology