Till vs. Still — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 24, 2024
"Till" refers to up to a certain point in time, often used in the context of time, while "still" emphasizes continuity or persistence, often highlighting ongoing action or state.
Difference Between Till and Still
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Till is used to mark the duration up to a specific point or event in time, suggesting a limit or endpoint to an action or period. It sets a boundary or indicates when something will happen or change. On the other hand, still is employed to denote the continuation of a state or action, often used to express that something is ongoing or has not changed, despite possible expectations to the contrary.
In usage, till can introduce a sense of anticipation or expectation for a change that is supposed to happen by a certain time. It's often about looking forward to a cutoff point. Whereas, still carries a nuance of surprise or emphasis that, regardless of circumstances or the passage of time, the state or action in question persists. It can convey patience, endurance, or sometimes frustration, depending on the context.
While till can be replaced by "until" with no loss of meaning, still does not have such a direct synonym and is unique in its ability to convey ongoing action or state with an implication of constancy or unexpected continuation. This distinction underlines till's focus on timing, compared to still's emphasis on the ongoing nature of actions or states.
The emotional or rhetorical impact of these words differs: till can imply a forward-looking perspective or anticipation, while still can evoke a sense of persistence, resistance, or, in some cases, stagnation. This difference illustrates how each word can affect the tone and implications of a statement, with till pointing towards a future change, and still emphasizing the present state's durability.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Up to a certain point in time.
Indicates continuity or persistence.
ADVERTISEMENT
Context
Time frames, given time.
Ongoing action or unchanged conditions.
Implication
Anticipation of an endpoint.
Surprise or emphasis on continuation.
Synonyms
Until.
-
Emotional Impact
Forward-looking, anticipation.
Persistence, sometimes frustration.
Compare with Definitions
Till
Referring to a temporal boundary.
I can't relax till the exams are over.
Still
Continuing in place or time.
It’s dark, but she is still working.
Till
Signifying an end point.
The store is open till midnight.
Still
Showing ongoing action or state.
Are you still watching that show?
Till
Up to the point in time.
I will work till 5 PM.
Still
Indicating contrast with expectations.
It was noisy, yet I still managed to sleep.
Till
Indicating duration up to a limit.
Keep stirring till the mixture thickens.
Still
Emphasizing a persistent state.
Years later, he still remembers the day.
Till
Until a certain event or time.
We have to wait till the rain stops.
Still
Despite that.
The hike was difficult, but I still enjoyed it.
Till
Till or glacial till is unsorted glacial sediment. Till is derived from the erosion and entrainment of material by the moving ice of a glacier.
Still
A still is an apparatus used to distill liquid mixtures by heating to selectively boil and then cooling to condense the vapor. A still uses the same concepts as a basic distillation apparatus, but on a much larger scale.
Till
Less formal way of saying until
Still
Not moving or making a sound
The still body of the young man
The sheriff commanded him to stand still and drop the gun
She sat very still, her eyes closed
He lay still, unable to move
Till
Less formal way of saying until
Still
Deep silence and calm; stillness
The still of the night
Till
A cash register or drawer for money in a shop, bank, or restaurant
There were queues at the till
Checkout tills
Still
An ordinary static photograph as opposed to a motion picture, especially a single shot from a cinema film
Stills photography
Film stills
Till
Boulder clay or other sediment deposited by melting glaciers or ice sheets.
Still
An apparatus for distilling alcoholic drinks such as whisky.
Till
Prepare and cultivate (land) for crops
No land was being tilled or crops sown
Still
Up to and including the present or the time mentioned; even now (or then) as formerly
He still lives with his mother
It was still raining
Till
To prepare (land) for the raising of crops, as by plowing and harrowing; cultivate.
Still
Nevertheless; all the same
I'm afraid he's crazy. Still, he's harmless
Till
Until.
Still
Even (used with comparatives for emphasis)
Hank, already sweltering, began to sweat still more profusely
Write, or better still, type, captions for the pictures
Till
Until.
Still
Make or become still; quieten
She raised her hand, stilling Erica's protests
The din in the hall stilled
Till
A drawer, small chest, or compartment for money, as in a store.
Still
Not moving or in motion
The patient must be still for the doctor to work.
Till
A supply of money; a purse.
Still
Free from disturbance, agitation, or commotion
The still waters of the lake.
Till
Glacial drift composed of an unconsolidated, heterogeneous mixture of clay, sand, pebbles, cobbles, and boulders.
Still
Of or relating to a single or static photograph as opposed to a movie.
Till
Until; to, up to; as late as (a given time).
She stayed till the very end.
It's twenty till two. (1:40)
I have to work till eight o'clock tonight.
Still
Making or characterized by no sound or faint sound
The crowd cheered and then grew still.
Till
To, up to (physically).
They led him till his tent
Still
Not carbonated; lacking effervescence
A still wine.
Till
To, toward (in attitude).
Still
Silence; quiet
The still of the night.
Till
(dialectal) To make it possible that.
Still
A still photograph, especially one taken from a scene of a movie and used for promotional purposes.
Till
Until, until the time that.
Maybe you can, maybe you can't: you won't know till you try.
Still
A still-life picture.
Till
A cash register.
Still
An apparatus for distilling liquids, such as alcohols, consisting of a vessel in which the substance is vaporized by heat and a cooling device in which the vapor is condensed.
Till
A removable box within a cash register containing the money.
Pull all the tills and lock them in the safe.
Still
A distillery.
Till
The contents of a cash register, for example at the beginning or end of the day or of a cashier's shift.
My count of my till was 30 dollars short.
Still
Without movement; motionlessly
Stand still.
Till
(obsolete) A tray or drawer in a chest.
Still
At the present time; for the present
We are still waiting.
Till
Glacial drift consisting of a mixture of clay, sand, pebbles and boulders
Still
Up to or at a specified time; yet
Still had not made up her mind.
Till
(dialect) manure or other material used to fertilize land
Still
At a future time; eventually
May still see the error of his ways.
Till
A vetch; a tare.
Still
In increasing amount or degree; even
And still further complaints.
Till
(transitive) To develop so as to improve or prepare for usage; to cultivate (said of knowledge, virtue, mind etc.).
Still
In addition; besides
Had still another helping.
Till
(transitive) To work or cultivate or plough (soil); to prepare for growing vegetation and crops.
Still
All the same; nevertheless.
Till
(intransitive) To cultivate soil.
Still
To make motionless or unagitated
The afternoon heat stilled the breeze.
Till
(obsolete) To prepare; to get.
Still
To make quiet; silence
"a ... cold wind that stilled even the chorus of insects" (David Campbell).
Till
A vetch; a tare.
Still
To allay or calm
The parents stilled their child's fears of the dark.
Till
A drawer.
Still
To become still.
Till
A deposit of clay, sand, and gravel, without lamination, formed in a glacier valley by means of the waters derived from the melting glaciers; - sometimes applied to alluvium of an upper river terrace, when not laminated, and appearing as if formed in the same manner.
Still
Not moving; calm.
Sit there and stay still!
Still waters run deep.
Till
A kind of coarse, obdurate land.
Still
Not effervescing; not sparkling.
Still water; still wines
Till
To; unto; up to; as far as; until; - now used only in respect to time, but formerly, also, of place, degree, etc., and still so used in Scotland and in parts of England and Ireland; as, I worked till four o'clock; I will wait till next week.
He . . . came till an house.
Women, up till thisCramped under worse than South-sea-isle taboo.
Similar sentiments will recur to every one familiar with his writings - all through them till the very end.
Still
Uttering no sound; silent.
Till
As far as; up to the place or degree that; especially, up to the time that; that is, to the time specified in the sentence or clause following; until.
And said unto them, Occupy till I come.
Mediate so long till you make some act of prayer to God.
There was no outbreak till the regiment arrived.
Still
(not comparable) Having the same stated quality continuously from a past time
Till
To plow and prepare for seed, and to sow, dress, raise crops from, etc., to cultivate; as, to till the earth, a field, a farm.
No field nolde [would not] tilye.
The Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Still
Comparatively quiet or silent; soft; gentle; low.
Till
To prepare; to get.
Still
(obsolete) Constant; continual.
Till
To cultivate land.
Still
Without motion.
They stood still until the guard was out of sight.
Till
Unstratified soil deposited by a glacier; consists of sand and clay and gravel and boulders mixed together
Still
(aspect) Up to a time, as in the preceding time.
Is it still raining?
It was still raining five minutes ago.
We've seen most of the sights, but we are still visiting the museum.
I’m still not wise enough to answer that.
Till
A treasury for government funds
Still
(degree) To an even greater degree. Used to modify comparative adjectives or adverbs.
Tom is tall; Dick is taller; Harry is still taller / Harry is taller still.
Till
A strongbox for holding cash
Still
(conjunctive) Nevertheless.
I’m not hungry, but I’ll still manage to find room for dessert.
Yeah, but still...
Till
Work land as by ploughing, harrowing, and manuring, in order to make it ready for cultivation;
Till the soil
Still
Always; invariably; constantly; continuously.
Still
(extensive) Even, yet.
Some dogs howl, more yelp, still more bark.
Still
A period of calm or silence.
The still of the night
Still
(photography) A photograph, as opposed to movie footage.
Still
(slang) A resident of the Falkland Islands.
Still
A device for distilling liquids.
Still
(catering) A large water boiler used to make tea and coffee.
Still
(catering) The area in a restaurant used to make tea and coffee, separate from the main kitchen.
Still
A building where liquors are distilled; a distillery.
Still
To calm down, to quiet.
To still the raging sea
Still
(obsolete) To trickle, drip.
Still
To cause to fall by drops.
Still
To expel spirit from by heat, or to evaporate and condense in a refrigeratory; to distill.
Still
Motionless; at rest; quiet; as, to stand still; to lie or sit still.
Still
Uttering no sound; silent; as, the audience is still; the animals are still.
The sea that roared at thy command,At thy command was still.
Still
Not disturbed by noise or agitation; quiet; calm; as, a still evening; a still atmosphere.
Still
Comparatively quiet or silent; soft; gentle; low.
Still
Constant; continual.
By still practice learn to know thy meaning.
Still
Not effervescing; not sparkling; as, still wines.
Still
Freedom from noise; calm; silence; as, the still of midnight.
Still
A steep hill or ascent.
Still
A vessel, boiler, or copper used in the distillation of liquids; specifically, one used for the distillation of alcoholic liquors; a retort. The name is sometimes applied to the whole apparatus used in in vaporization and condensation.
Still
A house where liquors are distilled; a distillery.
Still
To this time; until and during the time now present; now no less than before; yet.
It hath been anciently reported, and is still received.
Still
In the future as now and before.
Hourly joys be still upon you!
Still
In continuation by successive or repeated acts; always; ever; constantly; uniformly.
The desire of fame betrays an ambitious man into indecencies that lessen his reputation; he is still afraid lest any of his actions should be thrown away in private.
Chemists would be rich if they could still do in great quantities what they have sometimes done in little.
Still
In an increasing or additional degree; even more; - much used with comparatives.
The guilt being great, the fear doth still exceed.
Still
Notwithstanding what has been said or done; in spite of what has occured; nevertheless; - sometimes used as a conjunction. See Synonym of But.
As sunshine, broken in the rill,Though turned astray, is sunshine still.
Still
After that; after what is stated.
In the primitive church, such as by fear being compelled to sacrifice to strange gods, after repented, and kept still the office of preaching the gospel.
And like the watchful minutes to the hour,Still and anon cheered up the heavy time.
Still
To stop, as motion or agitation; to cause to become quiet, or comparatively quiet; to check the agitation of; as, to still the raging sea.
He having a full sway over the water, had power to still and compose it, as well as to move and disturb it.
Still
To stop, as noise; to silence.
With his name the mothers still their babies.
Still
To appease; to calm; to quiet, as tumult, agitation, or excitement; as, to still the passions.
Toil that would, at least, have stilled an unquiet impulse in me.
Still
To cause to fall by drops.
Still
To expel spirit from by heat, or to evaporate and condense in a refrigeratory; to distill.
Still
To drop, or flow in drops; to distill.
Still
A static photograph (especially one taken from a movie and used for advertising purposes);
He wanted some stills for a magazine ad
Still
(poetic) tranquil silence;
The still of the night
Still
An apparatus used for the distillation of liquids; consists of a vessel in which a substance is vaporized by heat and a condenser where the vapor is condensed
Still
A plant and works where alcoholic drinks are made by distillation
Still
Make calm or still;
Quiet the dragons of worry and fear
Still
Cause to be quiet or not talk;
Please silence the children in the church!
Still
Lessen the intensity of or calm;
The news eased my conscience
Still the fears
Still
Make motionless
Still
Not in physical motion;
The inertia of an object at rest
Still
Marked by absence of sound;
A silent house
Soundless footsteps on the grass
The night was still
Still
Free from disturbance;
A ribbon of sand between the angry sea and the placid bay
The quiet waters of a lagoon
A lake of tranquil blue water reflecting a tranquil blue sky
A smooth channel crossing
Scarcely a ripple on the still water
Unruffled water
Still
Used of pictures; of a single or static photograph not presented so as to create the illusion of motion; or representing objects not capable of motion;
A still photograph
Cezanne's still life of apples
Still
Not sparkling;
A still wine
Still mineral water
Still
Free from noticeable current;
A still pond
Still waters run deep
Still
With reference to action or condition; without change, interruption, or cessation;
It's still warm outside
Will you still love me when we're old and grey?
Still
Despite anything to the contrary (usually following a concession);
Although I'm a little afraid, however I'd like to try it
While we disliked each other, nevertheless we agreed
He was a stern yet fair master
Granted that it is dangerous, all the same I still want to go
Still
To a greater degree or extent; used with comparisons;
Looked sick and felt even worse
An even (or still) more interesting problem
Still another problem must be solved
A yet sadder tale
Still
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
Common Curiosities
Can "still" and "yet" be used interchangeably?
While "still" and "yet" can both refer to ongoing situations, "still" emphasizes continuity, and "yet" often focuses on an expectation of change.
Can "till" imply a sense of urgency?
Yes, depending on context, "till" can imply urgency by highlighting an end point that is approaching.
Is "till" only used for time?
Primarily, yes. "Till" is used to denote time up to a certain event or moment, although it can metaphorically extend to conditions or states.
How do "till" and "still" affect sentence tone?
"Till" can introduce a tone of anticipation or urgency towards a future point, while "still" can add a tone of surprise, persistence, or contrast.
Does "still" always carry a positive connotation?
Not necessarily. "Still" can express patience or endurance but can also indicate frustration or stagnation, depending on context.
Is it correct to use "till" at the beginning of a sentence?
While less common, "till" can start a sentence when emphasizing the end point of an action, but it's more typically seen in the middle or end of sentences.
How does "still" emphasize persistence?
"Still" emphasizes persistence by indicating that an action or state continues despite expectations or changing circumstances.
What is the difference between "till" and "until"?
"Till" and "until" are often interchangeable, both indicating up to a certain point in time, but "till" is more informal.
Is "till" formal or informal?
"Till" is generally considered less formal than "until," but both are widely accepted in various contexts.
Can "still" be used to show contrast?
Yes, "still" is often used to show contrast, especially to highlight that something is ongoing or unchanged despite potential reasons for it to be otherwise.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Melon vs. Muskmelon
Next Comparison
Hibernation vs. DiapauseAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
