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stiff

Pronunciation: [stɪf]

Word

Learn how to use stiff in a sentence: 12 audio examples across 4 meanings.

Context: “physical state”

(adjective) when something is hard to bend or move. If someone is stiff, their body is tight and they have trouble moving easily, like after exercising a lot.

Example

After a good night's sleep, I felt less stiff and was able to move more freely.

Example

Yesterday, I was so stiff from the long car ride that I could hardly walk.

Example

Do you feel stiff after your workout?

Context: “behavior”

(adjective) when someone is not friendly or very formal. If a person is stiff, they may seem serious and not very comfortable in social situations.

Example

At the party, she was a bit stiff at first but then started to relax and enjoy herself.

Example

He was so stiff during the dinner that it was hard to have fun talking with him.

Example

Why do you think he seemed so stiff at the gathering?

Context: “material quality”

(adjective) when something is firm and not soft. For example, stiff fabric holds its shape well and doesn't flow easily.

Example

The new curtains are blue and made of stiff material that helps them stay up nicely.

Example

I prefer softer shirts, not stiff ones that feel uncomfortable against my skin.

Example

Is this fabric stiff, or is it soft and flexible?

Context: “death”

(noun) an informal term used to refer to a dead body. It's often used in a more serious or even humorous way.

Example

The old story says that the stiff in the movie was actually played by a famous actor.

Example

They didn’t find the stiff until days later, which was very sad.

Example

What happens to the stiff in the end of the story?

How to pronounce stiff

Pronunciation: [stɪf]

Listen and repeat as many times as you need.

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