still water: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
IntermediateNeutral
Quick answer
What does “still water” mean?
Water that is not moving or flowing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Water that is not moving or flowing; non-carbonated water.
Metaphorically, a state of calmness, stagnation, or lack of activity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'still water' is commonly used for non-carbonated water in dining contexts. In American English, it is often called 'plain water' or 'flat water', but 'still water' is understood.
Connotations
Both varieties imply calmness or lack of movement; in beverages, it denotes absence of carbonation.
Frequency
More frequent in British English when ordering water in restaurants.
Grammar
How to Use “still water” in a Sentence
prepositional phrase: in still waterverb + object: drink still wateradjective + noun: calm still waterVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “still water” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He stilled the water to see his reflection.
American English
- She stilled the muddy water by letting it settle.
adverb
British English
- The water still hasn't cleared after the storm.
American English
- The water still looks calm from here.
adjective
British English
- The still water of the pond was perfect for skating.
American English
- They enjoyed the still water of the lake during their hike.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to markets or situations with little activity or change.
Academic
Used in geography and environmental sciences to describe lentic ecosystems.
Everyday
Commonly used to order non-carbonated water or describe calm water bodies.
Technical
In hydrology, denotes water with negligible current.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “still water”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “still water”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “still water”
- Using 'still water' to mean 'water that is always present' instead of non-moving or non-carbonated.
- Mispronouncing 'still' as 'steel'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily; still water can be stagnant and contaminated, so context matters. In beverages, it typically refers to purified water.
Yes, in the idiom 'still waters run deep', it describes a person who is quiet but has deep thoughts.
Still water refers to water without carbonation or movement, while distilled water is purified through distillation and may or may not be still.
You can say 'plain water' or 'still water', but 'tap water' is also common if you don't want bottled.
Water that is not moving or flowing.
Still water is usually neutral in register.
Still water: in British English it is pronounced /stɪl ˈwɔːtə/, and in American English it is pronounced /stɪl ˈwɑːtər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “still waters run deep”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'still' as in 'not moving', like a still photograph of water.
Conceptual Metaphor
Calmness is still water; stagnation is still water.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common meaning of 'still water' in a British restaurant?