stillness
Americannoun
-
silence; quiet; hush.
-
the absence of motion.
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."
Vocabulary lists containing stillness
myPerspectives 7.4
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The Suffix -ness, Part 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Coming after an eventful week—and a tough one for stocks, with the S&P 500 sliding 1.6%—the stillness was a welcome change of pace.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026
"Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience and quiet consideration," said Catherine.
From BBC • Jan. 9, 2026
But he was sympathetic to the crowd’s inertia: “The stillness isn’t apathy,” Skybetter added.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 31, 2025
Rather than chasing an expression, I was interested in stillness and repetition; how a simple gesture could feel amplified when echoed across a frame.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025
“When you ask her a question, there ensues, on her part, a moment of stillness so profound you can almost hear it,” another suffragist said.
From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
