perfectly motionless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "perfectly motionless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something or someone that is completely still and not moving at all. Example: "The statue stood perfectly 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

4 human-written examples

Exhaling puffs of vapor in the slanting light, the visitors dangled pendants to test energy fields and held arthritic fingers perfectly motionless over stones.

The New York Times

"The hair curiously stirred, as if by breath or hot-air; and though the eyes were wide open, they were perfectly motionless".

The Guardian - Books

"He sat perfectly motionless and wore grey suede gloves.

Huffington Post

Since the subject had to remain perfectly motionless during a test, particular attention was paid to his or her comfort.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The operation was then commenced, and the limb was removed in what seemed to us a marvellously short space of time – certainly less than a minute; the patient remaining perfectly still and motionless.

The Guardian

Wanda It's a mystery to us why this six-year-old calico has been here so long, other than the fact that she sits perfectly still all day — like, totally motionless.

The New Yorker

He'd spent the last four hours in motionless vigilance, leaning perfectly straight against the cool metal of the van door, alert in animosity.

Vice

The midfielder collected the ball some 25 yards out, turned and swept a perfectly-flighted curler over the motionless Howard and into the net.

The Guardian - Sport

He lay supine and motionless, his limbs outstretched, his perfectly calm face framed by the swirling mass of his hair.

The New Yorker

His odd behaviour grew worse in subsequent performances, and during a television recording for The Pat Boone Show he confounded the director by lip-syncing "Apples and Oranges" perfectly during the rehearsal, and then standing motionless during the take.

Wikipedia

With his back to the goal in the 77th minute, Rooney met a deflected cross from Nani with a perfectly timed right-foot strike that flew into the top corner as City goalkeeper Joe Hart stood motionless.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "perfectly motionless" to create a vivid image of complete stillness, whether describing a person, object, or scene. It's particularly effective when contrasting with surrounding activity or movement.

Common error

Avoid using "perfectly motionless" when the context already implies a lack of movement. For example, saying 'a perfectly motionless statue' is redundant, as statues are inherently unmoving.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "perfectly motionless" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier describing the state of something. It modifies a verb or noun to indicate a complete lack of movement. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "perfectly motionless" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a state of complete stillness, and according to Ludwig's analysis is applicable to multiple contexts, though seen relatively rarely. Its function is to emphasize the absence of movement, often creating a stark contrast with surrounding activity. Although it works well in both formal and informal contexts, you could adjust it, depending on the message that you want to share, using alternatives such as "completely still", "utterly unmoving", or "absolutely immobile". Be mindful to avoid using the phrase redundantly, and ensure it adds value to your description.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

perfectly still

Focuses on stillness, almost identical but omitting the focus on 'motion'.

completely still

Emphasizes the absence of any movement, highlighting the stillness.

utterly unmoving

Focuses on the total lack of movement, stressing the completeness of the stillness.

absolutely immobile

Highlights the inability to move, stressing the fixed position.

entirely static

Emphasizes the lack of change or progress, highlighting the unchanging nature.

absolutely stationary

Highlights that the position is not changing.

completely inert

Focuses on lack of chemical activity or life. Good for scientific contexts.

dead still

Focuses on lack of life, and is more dramatic.

fixed in place

Highlights the idea of immobility due to external forces.

like a statue

Uses a simile to compare stillness with something well known to be static.

FAQs

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

You can use "perfectly motionless" to describe something that isn't moving at all. For example: "The cat sat "perfectly motionless", watching the mouse hole" or "The dancer remained "perfectly motionless" during the pose".

What are some alternatives to "perfectly motionless"?

Alternatives to "perfectly motionless" include "completely still", "utterly unmoving", or "absolutely immobile", depending on the context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is "perfectly motionless" a formal or informal phrase?

"Perfectly motionless" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal writing might prefer synonyms like "completely static" or "absolutely stationary".

What is the difference between "perfectly still" and "perfectly motionless"?

While "perfectly still" and "perfectly motionless" are very similar, "perfectly still" emphasizes the absence of agitation or disturbance, while "perfectly motionless" specifically highlights the lack of movement. They are often interchangeable, but the choice depends on the intended emphasis.