What does stillest mean?
Stillest is the superlative of still and means more or most motionless, quiet, calm, or undisturbed. It is especially associated with writing that draws attention to silence, stillness, or the absence of movement: a still lake, a still night, or a still voice. The word is grammatically ordinary, formed by adding the superlative suffix -est to still, but its use is relatively uncommon in modern conversation and formal business or academic prose. Many speakers would say most still or use constructions such as the quietest or the most motionless instead. Stillest can therefore sound evocative and slightly elevated, making it useful in descriptive or literary contexts where ordinary language would be less vivid. It may also emphasize an extreme degree of calmness, as when someone speaks in a particularly quiet, composed voice.
adjectiveThe superlative form of still: more or most motionless, quiet, or undisturbed. It is chiefly used in literary or poetic contexts.
- Most still; most motionless, quiet, or undisturbed.
"The lake was the stillest it had been all morning."
"Not a breath moved across the stillest part of the lake."
"In her stillest voice, she asked the children to remain quiet."
Stillest adds the superlative ending -est to still, selecting the most motionless or undisturbed member of a group.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stillest come from?
The base word still comes from Old English stille, meaning quiet, motionless, or without disturbance. The superlative suffix -est was added in the usual English comparative and superlative pattern, producing stillest. Related forms such as stillness and stilly continue the same Germanic and Old English root.
Related word forms
How stillest is actually used
This form is uncommon in everyday English and sounds literary, poetic, or deliberately emphatic. In formal prose, the phrase most still may often be clearer.