Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Completely motionless; absolutely still: Describes a state of being entirely without movement, often due to shock, fear, or intense concentration. It implies a rigid, fixed posture.

2. Adverb:

   • In a completely motionless manner; without moving or making a sound: Describes the way an action is performed, emphasizing total stillness and silence.

Usage and Examples

• As an Adjective:

  • The deer stood stock-still, blending into the forest to avoid detection.
  • She was stock-still with fear when she heard the strange noise.

• As an Adverb:

  • The children had to sit stock-still during the ceremony.
  • He waited stock-still behind the door, listening for footsteps.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• Emphatic Stillness: "Stock-still" is a stronger, more emphatic term than "still" alone. It paints a vivid picture of a person or object frozen in place.
  • The audience was stock-still, captivated by the performer's final note.
• Often Used with Verbs of Posture: It frequently modifies verbs like , , , , or .
  • The soldier remained stock-still at his post for hours.

Variants and Related Words

• Still (adj/adv): Without movement. ("Stock-still" intensifies this meaning.)
• Motionless (adj): Not moving.
• Immobile (adj): Incapable of moving or being moved.
• Frozen (adj): Rendered motionless, often by a strong emotion like terror or surprise. (e.g., )
• Rooted to the spot (idiom): Unable to move, typically from shock or fear. (This is a close conceptual synonym but a longer phrase.)

Synonyms

• Adjective: Motionless, immobile, frozen, rigid, stationary, static.
• Adverb: Motionlessly, immovably, fixedly.

Antonyms

• Adjective/Adverb: Moving, active, fidgety, restless, in motion.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• (As) still as a statue: An idiom meaning completely motionless, very similar in meaning and imagery to "stock-still."
  • The model stood as still as a statue for the painter.
• Hold still: A phrasal verb meaning to remain motionless.
  • The doctor asked the patient to hold still for the injection. (Note: "Hold still" is a phrasal verb; "stock-still" can be used to intensify it: hold stock-still.)

Adjective

1. absolutely still
   • frozen with horror
   • they stood rooted in astonishment

Adverb

1. without moving or making a sound
   • he sat still as a statue
   • time stood still
   • they waited stock-still outside the door
   • he couldn't hold still any longer