stay motionless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stay motionless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when instructing someone to remain still or not to move. Example: "During the photo shoot, the photographer asked everyone to stay motionless to capture the perfect shot."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The unhappy couple stay motionless, as if locked in time.

The New York Times - Arts

They step, stop, and stay, motionless, nose to the air, looking and smelling.

The Guardian - Books

The poet Stamatis Polenakis suggests as much in "Poetry Does Not Suffice," translated by A. E. Stallings: The sirens don't sing, nor are they silent, they merely stay motionless, dumbstruck by the privatization of the waves and no poetry doesn't suffice since the sea filled up with trash and condoms.

The New Yorker

During the functional scan, subjects were asked to simply stay motionless, awake, and relaxed, and to keep their eyes closed; no visual or auditory stimuli were presented at any time during functional scanning.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

The capture of owlets was always very easy and safe, because owls of this age stay motionless when humans approach.

Plosone

The subjects were then positioned supine on the scanning table and were instructed to stay motionless throughout the scan.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Sykora stayed motionless on the ice for several minutes.

The New York Times - Sports

He stayed motionless for several moments, until pushing off the dock and paddling away.

The New York Times - Sports

As visitors took turns to sit facing her, she stayed motionless before all but one, her ex-partner and fellow artist, Uwe Laysiepen, whose hands she took.

The Economist

What if, when the young man came knocking, the grown woman hid, locked her bedroom door and "stayed motionless on her bed, not answering, hugging her knees tightly"?

The New York Times

Diana and her friends had stayed motionless with their arms raised throughout this process, as though hoping to overcome the enemy's aggression with the strength of their circle.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "stay motionless" in instructional contexts, consider the audience and choose the clearest phrasing. For children, "hold still" might be more readily understood than "stay motionless".

Common error

While grammatically correct, "stay motionless" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. In informal settings, consider simpler alternatives like "hold still" or "don't move" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stay motionless" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "stay" acts as a linking verb connecting the subject to the adjective "motionless", which describes the state of being without movement. Ludwig indicates its usability in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

42%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "stay motionless" is a grammatically correct and usable expression meaning to remain without movement. While not exceedingly common, it finds its place in diverse contexts, from scientific instructions to news reports and general advice. According to Ludwig, the phrase is perfectly valid. Simpler alternatives like "hold still" or "don't move" might be preferable in informal settings. The phrase's formality level is neutral to formal, and it serves to instruct or advise someone to remain still, emphasizing clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remain still

Focuses on the absence of movement without explicitly referencing motion.

be still

A simpler way of instructing someone to stop moving.

hold still

Implies a deliberate effort to maintain a motionless state, often used as an instruction.

keep still

Similar to "hold still", emphasizing the continuation of a motionless state.

do not move

A direct command to avoid any movement.

remain stationary

Uses a more formal term, "stationary", to indicate a lack of movement.

stay put

Suggests remaining in a specific location without moving from it.

freeze

Implies an abrupt cessation of all movement.

become immobile

Highlights the transition to a state of lacking movement capabilities.

cease movement

A more formal way of saying to stop moving.

FAQs

What does "stay motionless" mean?

The phrase "stay motionless" means to remain without any movement, to keep perfectly still.

What's a simpler way to say "stay motionless"?

Instead of "stay motionless", you can use phrases like "remain still", "hold still", or simply "do not move".

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

You might say, "The yoga instructor told us to stay motionless during the final pose", or "The photographer asked the model to stay motionless for the close-up shot".

Is it better to say "stay motionless" or "remain motionless"?

Both "stay motionless" and "remain motionless" are correct and have similar meanings. "Remain motionless" is often perceived as slightly more formal, while "stay motionless" is more common in everyday language.