stillness

American  

[stil-nis] / ˈstɪl nɪs /

noun

1. silence; quiet; hush.

2. the absence of motion.

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Etymology

Origin of stillness

before 1000; Middle English stilnesse, Old English stilnes. See still ¹, -ness

Explanation

Stillness is a calm, quiet, motionless state. As you look out at the lake, the stillness of the water is a sign that you should take out the canoe rather than the sailboat. When there's stillness, you can hear very few sounds and see very little movement. The stillness of a quiet mountain cabin may be just the escape you need from the busy, noisy city — although you may find that stillness to be a little spooky at night. You can also use this word for a more specific example of motionlessness: "The butterfly's stillness allowed me to get a good look at its beautiful wings."

Example Sentences

And on Tuesdays, when Apam observes a long-standing spiritual tradition and no-one goes out to fish, the town falls into an unusual stillness, the Atlantic rolling quietly in the background.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

At the second hospital, a surgeon walked in, took one look at me and stopped—with that stillness that comes before hard news.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

With a far-seeing stillness, Kani’s Sam does more than endure.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Here the road becomes a boundary between different ways of moving through — and loving — the same landscape: speed and stillness, noise and silence, crowds and solitude.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

She carried him on her great back to the stretch of sandy ground where it was to take place: a place where land met water in beauty and stillness.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell

Related Words

• calmness
• hush
• serenity
• tranquility