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Really need help to know what ‘still’ means once and for all

Elvisishere
If you look into my account, i have made way too many posts about help on the word ‘still’. Funny thing is that being a native speaker of english, but suddenly forgetting how to identify how it’s being used in a sentence is very frustrating especially since this has been going on for almost a year and i would like to read again without having to overthink the word ‘still’ every time it shows up, and i don’t want to bombard this subreddit with my questions. The word has become ambiguous to me and i receive different answers from whoever i ask, so i would like someone who wouldn’t mind me giving all my questions of how ‘still’ is being used exactly. In usages like ‘i still don’t get it’ i get, but in usages like in these lyrics. “You took your time with the call I took no time with the fall You gave me nothin' at all But still, you're in my way” I read it as ‘but, in spite of that’ from quora explanations, but then i look at an explanation from ‘genius’ and a friend saying ‘despite that treatment, they are still in their way’ so i don’t know what to think. excuse my venting

20 comments

KaiG1987•
>I read it as ‘but, in spite of that’ from quora explanations, but then i look at an explanation from ‘genius’ and a friend saying ‘despite that treatment, they are still in their way’ so i don’t know what to think. excuse my venting "In spite of" and "despite" mean the same thing. I don't see the discrepancy.
Ok_Television9820•
You’ve made many posts, but you’re still confused?
electra_everglow•
“But still, you’re in my way” and “I still don’t get it” are using the word “still” in the same way imo. Instinctively, as a native speaker, I think of it as indicating that a person or thing is continuing to be/do something. Another way of wording these would be “But you continue to be in my way” and “I continue to misunderstand” - these would be clunky ways of wording the sentiment (especially the second sentence) but they mean the same thing as the examples using the word “still”. Does that make sense? To expand a little more: You said that based on a Quora answer you read “But still, you’re in my way” as “But, in spite of that” <— this is just kind of a redundant way of saying “but”, the word “still” is again more about the continuation aspect, though it can have somewhat of a negative connotation depending on the context. Like “Oh, you’re STILL here?” which would be like “you continue to be here, bothering me”. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Old_Introduction_395•
It coontinues
VotaryOfEnglish•
It means "despite that" or "nevertheless." Though logically "still" should not be required when you begin with "despite that/in spite of that" (but as we also tend to overemphasize things), it still sounds natural (😄) following that there. I think it means something like "anyway/nevertheless" in such cases. Despite his warning, I'm still going ahead. (a daredevil that I am.😉) Is that combination what's confusing you?
shutupimrosiev•
Other commenters have explained what's going on here with "still" in that lyric, but I'd like to add an extra thing I noticed about it. If the words were rearranged into "But *you're still* in my way," it makes as much sense as the original "But *still, you're* in my way." However, putting "still" first so that it's not part of the "you're in my way" phrase puts extra emphasis onto it, which results in the "in spite of/despite" extra meaning. Not only are "you" still in the singer's way (so, "you" were there already and have refused to move), but "you're" there even *despite* "taking your time with the call" and "giving "nothin' at all." In spite of being the one who messed up, "you" are now acting like everything can be fixed if the singer just gives in and lets "you" win. Despite everything, "you're" still here.
Unlikely_Ad_7004•
I think that what's complicating this for us is the placement of the word "still." It seems clearer to me if we were to, just temporarily, move it to "But, you're still in my way." To me, it seems like an adverb meaning "continuing through the moment in question." I think the reason it's given to mean "despite" is that it can be meant to imply it by virtue of a condition or fact remaining to be true, sometimes against the odds.
Bright_Ices•
“In spite of” and “despite” are synonyms. They mean almost exactly the same thing.  Yes, there’s nuanced situations where it’s more common to use on than the other, but that’s true of all synonyms. 
SnooDonuts6494•
There is no "once and for all" definitive answer. It means many different things in many different contexts, and there is massive regional variation too. Some people use it as a filler-word, like "like" and "um" and "u-hu", in which case it serves no real language purpose at all. It often means "but" or "even so" or "regardless" or "on the other hand", or "until now" or "at this time" or "remains true" or "yet", or dozens of other nuances.
ThomasApplewood•
The thing is if you’re a native speaker you KNOW what it means. You have trouble expressing it in other words specifically BECAUSE you know exactly what it means, and other words don’t work as well as the word “still” Do you use this word correctly? Do you use it when it’s the best word to use? Do you understand what people mean when they use it? Yes? Ok so you understand what the word means in the way that matters.
Present-Researcher27•
Think of “still” like “continue to”. You “continue to” not understand the meaning of “still”. You didn’t understand it then, and you still do not understand it. You “continue to” be in my way. You were in my way then, and you’re still in my way now. Something was happening in the past, and it continues to happen in the present. It’s still happening.
stink3rb3lle•
If you're still struggling, I suspect it's not the definition that eludes you. Think about a deep, still pond, walk up to the bank, and let your anxieties float away in the water.
CaeruleumBleu•
There are multiple definitions of "still" but other than the kind of still that makes alcohol, the other definition could be simplified as "unchanged" or "unchanging". Still waters = waters that are not flowing, not changing. Stand still = do not change your position. I still don't get it = my lack of understanding has not changed. You're still here = whatever else has happened, it hasn't made you leave. Keep in mind that lyrics will be more poetic in definition, and do not always use correct grammar. As already pointed out by others here, "despite" and "in spite of" are the same thing, so what your friend said matched your understanding already.
PaleMeet9040•
Am I dumb or do “in spite of that treatment” and “despite that treatment” mean the same thing? “Still” in that lyric means “even though you treated me this way you ‘continue to remain’ in my way” Edit: now I have that dumb song stuck in my head and I blame you random reditor.
JoeMoeller_CT•
My understanding is that “still” first means not moving, and then usages like this are secondary derived from that, and “still A” means “A was true before and A is also true now”, and probably also “A did not stop being true in between”.
ebrum2010•
It's similar to yet, though still is also used to mean something that is currently going on while yet is only used that way as an archaism or poetically. Example: "I'm still angry/I'm angry still" is current usage while "I'm yet angry/I'm angry yet" is archaic.
InvestigatorJaded261•
Maybe stop using dubious online resources, and treat yourself to a really good dictionary definition. I would consult the OED.
Vozmate_English•
"Still" is one of those words that seems simple but can get weirdly confusing when you start overanalyzing it (trust me, I’ve been there with other words). In your example from the lyrics, I’d say both interpretations are kinda right? "But still" here feels like "even after all that" or "despite everything." Like, they did nothing for you, yet they’re still in your way. It’s that stubborn continuation of the situation. I had a similar brain melt with "yet" vs "still" once took me ages to stop overthinking it. What helped me was just seeing tons of examples in context (songs, movies, etc.) until it clicked. Maybe try that?
nottoday943•
"Still" in the lyric example that you gave means that something is continuing to happen. I'm not exactly sure where your problem of comprehension lies.
BubbhaJebus•
"still", like many words, has numerous meanings and uses. It can mean "even so" or "nevertheless" ("Still, I decided to confront him"), it can mean "up to and including now" ("My grandfather is still alive") , it can mean "not moving" ("Sit still!"), and it can mean "silent and serene" ("the still of the night"). All these meanings have some connection to motionlessness or a lack of change. It can also mean "even" as in "Better still" ("Even better"). And it's a device for extracting volatile substances from a mixture through heating and condensing ("whiskey still").