1. Stillness in a Physical Sense
* "The water stilled as the boat drifted into the cove." (Meaning: the water became calm and quiet)
* "The storm raged for hours, but the wind finally stilled." (Meaning: the wind became calm and stopped blowing)
2. Stillness in an Emotional Sense
* "His anger stilled as he realized the mistake he had made." (Meaning: his anger subsided and calmed down)
* "The news of the tragedy stilled the laughter in the room." (Meaning: the laughter ceased, replaced by a sense of seriousness)
3. Stopping a Movement or Action
* "The hikers stilled their footsteps to listen for any sounds of danger." (Meaning: they stopped moving)
* "She stilled her racing thoughts to focus on the task at hand." (Meaning: she stopped thinking about other things and focused on the task)
4. Stillness as a Command
* "Still! Don't make a sound." (Meaning: stop moving and be quiet)
Important Note: The verb "still" is less common than the adverb "still," which means "continuing to be," "despite something," or "at this point in time." The context usually makes it clear whether "still" is functioning as a verb or an adverb.