CEFR A2

be still

verb phrase

Meaning

Remain motionless or quiet, often to avoid detection or to allow a delicate process to occur.

Examples

The doctor asked the patient to be still while she checked his blood pressure.
If you be still in the woods, the deer might come closer to you.

Synonyms: wait, stay, freeze, remain, immobile

Learn English that separates you from the crowd with Anaversity: private classes, Ani practice, Campus tools, and a public English-learning community.

be still (A2)

verb phrase

Pronunciation: /biː stɪl/

Definition

Remain motionless or quiet, often to avoid detection or to allow a delicate process to occur.

Examples

The doctor asked the patient to be still while she checked his blood pressure.
If you be still in the woods, the deer might come closer to you.
The sculpture required the model to be still for several hours at a time.

How to Use be still

be still + while + clause (imperative): Used to instruct someone to remain motionless during a specific duration. — "Be still while I take your photo."
be still + for + duration (infinitive): Used to describe the requirement of remaining motionless for a purpose. — "He had to be still for the portrait."

Synonyms of be still

Words with a similar meaning to be still:

Antonyms of be still

Words with the opposite meaning to be still:

Browse the full Anaversity dictionary