stillness
stillness — noun
1. the physical state of having no motion, where no part of a body or object change
the physical state of having no motion, where no part of a body or object changes position.
The cat held perfect stillness while the dog sniffed curiously at its tail.
collocation: perfect stillness
Gita focused on keeping her body in stillness during the yoga balance exercise.
stillness + in/within [body part]
A sudden stillness spread across the classroom when the principal walked in.
The dancer's final pose demanded absolute stillness for a full ten seconds.
Stillness settled over the pond as the wind died down at sunset.
- immobility
more technical, often used in medical or mechanical contexts
- motionlessness
straightforward synonym, less literary
- stasis
formal or scientific, suggests a prolonged or unnatural lack of change
用法筆記
Describes the physical world — people, animals, objects, or natural scenes. Often paired with modifiers like 'perfect', 'absolute', or 'total' to emphasise completeness.
常見錯誤
2. a condition of deep inner peace in which a person feels free from worry, excitem
a condition of deep inner peace in which a person feels free from worry, excitement, or emotional disturbance.
After an hour of meditation, Asher felt a deep stillness inside his chest.
collocation: deep stillness
The view of the valley brought a comforting stillness to Greta's troubled mind.
Feng does breathing exercises each morning to find stillness before work begins.
A special stillness comes over you after a long walk in the rain.
Mateo discovered an inner stillness that helped him face the difficult exam.
- calmness
slightly broader, can describe both emotion and environment
- serenity
more elevated in tone, suggests a spiritual quality
- tranquillity
focuses on peaceful scene or state, common in descriptive writing
用法筆記
Describes a subjective, emotional state rather than a physical condition. Frequently appears with verbs like 'find', 'bring', 'discover', and is often modified by 'inner' or 'deep'. Distinguish from sense 1, which concerns the observable external world.
常見錯誤
3. the quality of a place where hardly any sound reaches the ear, creating a quiet
the quality of a place where hardly any sound reaches the ear, creating a quiet atmosphere.
The only noise that broke the stillness of the library was a page turning.
break the stillness — common verb-noun collocation
Imani stepped out into the stillness of the early morning street.
The stillness in the hospital ward was disturbed by a distant telephone.
Ezra loved the stillness of the art gallery on a weekday afternoon.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes an aural quality (soundlessness), not a visual quality (lack of motion). Distinguish from sense 2: this is about external environment, not internal emotion. Often combined with 'of' plus a location noun.