completely motionless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "completely motionless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of being entirely still or not moving at all. Example: "The statue stood completely motionless in the center of the park, captivating the attention of all who passed by."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

They were completely motionless and barely breathing.

The New Yorker

But my foot-crushing seatmate was completely motionless.

The New York Times

The duration of immobility was measured when mice were completely motionless.

Nature

"They dragged him out under the back of his arms … He was completely motionless," he said.

The Guardian

The singer stood completely motionless as the song erupted around him.

The Guardian - Music

"He's still holding onto the gift, but he stretches himself out into a deathlike pose, completely motionless, with his legs lagging behind," Dr. Bilde said.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

She was sitting totally motionless.

Huffington Post

The following day, the gas left a woman, undergoing surgery to cut a large tumor from her upper arm, completely silent and motionless.

The New Yorker

We can trace the history of one cycle, beginning with the point at which all the elements are united, completely intermingled and motionless under the total domination of Love.

SEP

Weatherwax was on the site with Pal and offered to have his dog perform in a five-stage shot in which Pal would swim the river, haul himself out, lie down without shaking the water off his coat, attempt to crawl while lying on his side and finally lie motionless, completely exhausted.

Wikipedia

Yuri, then a member of the Ukrainian special forces, who asked to be identified only by his first name, sat motionless, completely unfazed, as we waited, listening to the whistles and pings of bullets and the occasional boom of an artillery round.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "completely motionless" to create a vivid image of stillness or inactivity, especially when contrasting it with potential or previous movement. For example: "The dancer stood completely motionless, poised to begin her routine."

Common error

Avoid using "completely motionless" when describing actions that inherently imply movement. Instead of saying "He ran completely motionless", which is contradictory, describe the prior state before the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely motionless" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes a state of being without any movement whatsoever. Ludwig AI confirms the validity and usability of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

32%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "completely motionless" is a common and grammatically correct adjectival phrase used to emphasize the absence of movement. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity. It's frequently found in news and media, and scientific writing, serving to create vivid descriptions and highlight states of stillness. While alternatives like "utterly still" or "perfectly still" exist, "completely motionless" offers a clear and direct way to convey absolute stillness. Remember to avoid using "completely motionless" in situations where the action inherently implies movement, as this can create redundancy. Use "completely motionless" when you want to stress a lack of movement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly still

Emphasizes the stillness using a different adverb.

perfectly still

Highlights the flawlessness of the stillness.

absolutely unmoving

Uses a different adjective to describe the absence of movement.

entirely static

Emphasizes the lack of change over time.

totally inert

Highlights the lack of activity or responsiveness.

completely at rest

Focuses on the state of being without movement or exertion.

frozen in place

Suggests an abrupt cessation of movement.

motionless as a statue

Uses a simile to emphasize the stillness.

fixed and unblinking

Emphasizes the lack of movement and gaze.

stock-still

Informal synonym for absolute stillness.

FAQs

How can I use "completely motionless" in a sentence?

You can use "completely motionless" to describe something that is not moving at all. For example, "The cat sat "completely motionless", watching the bird outside the window."

What are some alternatives to "completely motionless"?

Some alternatives include "utterly still", "perfectly still", or "absolutely unmoving", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "completely still" instead of just "still"?

While "still" implies a lack of movement, "completely still" emphasizes the absolute absence of any motion, highlighting a more profound state of stillness. Therefore, is not redundant.

When is it appropriate to use "completely motionless" in scientific writing?

In scientific writing, "completely motionless" can be used to precisely describe the state of an object or organism during an experiment or observation, especially when controlling for movement is critical. For example, during behavior studies with animals.