stopped still

USAGE SUMMARY

"stopped still" is a correct phrase and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe the suddenness of the action of stopping, emphasizing that it happened quickly and there was no movement. Example: The crowd stopped still as soon as the music stopped.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Poor David Cameron has been the one left stranded when the music stopped, still singing as everyone else falls silent.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Knicks' patched-and-pasted center had stopped still in front of his own bench tonight, six minutes into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The New York Times - Sports

The one whom nobody noticed stopped still, grabbed the man by his lapels, and said, "Sit down, you clown!" He sat down.

The New Yorker

But two fortuitous seizures of over 600 kilos of cocaine, worth over $30m each, during the past seven months alone give an idea of the scale of the problem.Not that these seizures have stopped still more getting through.

The Economist

A Project Is Stopped Still, Mr. Perry was ebullient in mid-December when Texas accepted a proposal from a consortium led by the Spanish firm Cintra to start work on the project.

The New York Times

You see, netball, rugby - they're all playing in UK leagues and we've just stopped still a bit and we need a fresh challenge".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Then he stops, still.

The Guardian - Books

"It depends if I'm stopping still.

The Guardian - Film

Pan Pan Theatre's production invites us to return to stopping still as we listen.

The Guardian

The biggest risk for Paris, she says on the walkabout at Avenue Foch, is that "the city stops still".

The Economist

Getting to some surf stops still requires passing camouflage-clad soldiers, who search cars for guns and drugs.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stopped still" when you want to emphasize the sudden and complete cessation of movement. For example, "The music stopped, and the dancers stopped still, waiting for the next cue."

Common error

Avoid using additional adverbs that duplicate the meaning of "still", such as "stopped completely still" or "stopped absolutely still". The phrase already implies a complete cessation of movement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stopped still" functions as a verb phrase, where "stopped" is the past tense of the verb "stop", and "still" acts as an adverb emphasizing the completeness and lack of subsequent movement. Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as valid and provides examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stopped still" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a sudden and complete halt. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, though its frequency is relatively rare. It is suitable for neutral contexts, often found in news articles and general writing. When using this phrase, ensure you intend to emphasize the immediacy and completeness of the stop, and avoid redundant adverbs. While not extremely common, the phrase is readily understood and effectively conveys its intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stopped dead

Similar in meaning, but "dead" is more emphatic than "still".

stopped abruptly

Adds "abruptly" to emphasize the suddenness, while removing "still".

halted abruptly

Replaces "stopped" with "halted", adding the adverb "abruptly" to emphasize the suddenness of the stop.

stood stock-still

Emphasizes the rigidness and lack of movement after stopping, specifically in a standing position.

froze in place

Emphasizes the lack of movement after stopping, suggesting a more rigid and sudden halt.

came to a standstill

Uses a more formal expression to indicate complete cessation of movement.

paused abruptly

Suggests a temporary stop, rather than a complete and final one.

ceased moving

A more literal and less idiomatic way of expressing the action of stopping.

became motionless

Focuses on the resulting state of being without movement.

stilled

A single word emphasizing the action of becoming still. May require context for clarity.

FAQs

How can I use "stopped still" in a sentence?

You can use "stopped still" to emphasize the sudden and complete cessation of movement. For example: "The animal "stopped still" and gazed around with suspicion."

What does "stopped still" mean?

"Stopped still" means to have come to a sudden and complete halt, without any further movement.

Which is correct, "stopped still" or "stopped moving"?

Both are correct, but "stopped still" emphasizes the immediacy and completeness of the stop. "Stopped moving" is more general.

What are some alternatives to "stopped still"?

Alternatives include "halted abruptly", "froze in place", or "came to a standstill", depending on the context.