Cool MateStationary vs Still
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Stationary
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B1adjective
Still
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Most common: Still
| Stationary | Still | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈsteɪʃənəri//🇺🇸 //ˈsteɪʃəˌneri// | 🇬🇧 /["/stɪl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/stɪl/"]/ |
| Meaning | not moving or not changing | not moving; quiet |
| Example | The car remained **stationary** at the red light. | She is still waiting for her friends to arrive. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adverb |
| Collocations | stationary object, remain stationary, stationary position | still water, still life, still waiting, still standing |
| Antonyms | moving, mobile | yet, already |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'stationery' (paper supplies), Using it incorrectly as a noun, Confusing with 'static' (meaning unchanging) | Confused with 'steal', leading to incorrect usage., Using it in a question when it should be a statement, e.g., 'Is it still raining?' incorrectly phrased as 'Is still it raining?'., Overusing in sequences; proper placement in a sentence can be tricky. |
| Usage notes | Use 'stationary' to describe things that are still or not in motion. Avoid confusion with 'stationery', which means paper products. | Used to describe something that is not changing or happening yet. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but can sound more formal when used in written form. |
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Frequently asked questions: Stationary vs Still
What's the difference between Stationary and Still?
Stationary: not moving or not changing Still: not moving; quiet
Which is more common: Stationary and Still?
Still is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Stationary and Still?
Stationary is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Stationary and Still the same CEFR level?
Stationary: B1, Still: A1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Stationary and Still?
Stationary: adjective, Still: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Stationary: The car remained **stationary** at the red light. Still: She is still waiting for her friends to arrive.
Can I use Stationary and Still interchangeably?
Not always. Stationary and Still are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.