Stiff
/stɪf/
adjectiveadverbnounverbB1
Definition
Stiff describes something that does not bend easily and feels hard or tight. It can also mean acting in a serious, formal, or strict way. As a verb, it can mean to cheat someone by not paying or to make something firm or tight.
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See It in Action
Hard to bend or move; firm or tight
- •The cardboard was stiff and hard to fold.
- •After sleeping, my neck felt stiff and sore.
- •The door was stiff and difficult to open.
Serious, formal, or strict in behavior or style
- •He gave a stiff greeting without smiling.
- •The meeting was stiff and very professional.
- •She acted stiff because she was nervous.
(Verb) To cheat someone by not paying what you owe
- •He stiffed the waiter by leaving without paying.
- •Don’t stiff your friends when they help you.
(Noun) A person who is boring or formal
- •He’s a stiff who never jokes or relaxes.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "stiff" like "hard," but not as solid as rock—more like a dry stick that doesn’t bend easily
- ✓Picture a frozen branch in winter that doesn’t move when you try to bend it
- ✓It’s the feeling when your muscles are tight after exercise or after sitting too long
- ✓Sounds like "stiff" → imagine a stiff piece of paper that won’t fold without cracking
- ✓Think of a strict teacher who is "stiff" because they follow rules carefully and don’t relax much
- ✓NOT like "soft" (easy to bend or move), "stiff" means firm and hard to move
- ✓NOT like "loose" (free or relaxed), "stiff" is tight or fixed in place
- ✓NOT like "easy" (simple or relaxed), "stiff" can also mean difficult or serious
Try Other Words
- •Rigid: very hard and not bending at all (Use when something is completely fixed and cannot move)
- •Firm: solid and steady but can sometimes move a little (Use when something is strong but not too hard)
- •Strict: very serious and following rules carefully (Use when describing behavior or attitude)
- •Tight: pulled or fixed so it does not move easily (Use when something is pulled strongly or close together)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: base word "stiff" (no prefix or suffix)
- •Etymology: From Old English "stif," meaning rigid or strong
- •Historical development: Used since early English to describe hardness or firmness of objects and later for behavior
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe firm objects, tight muscles, serious behavior, or not paying a debt
Reflect & Connect
•How can the word "stiff" describe both objects and people’s behavior? What do these meanings have in common?
•Can something be too stiff? How would that affect its use or comfort?
Fill in the blanks
1.After sitting for hours, my back felt stiff and ___ to move.
2.He gave a stiff ___ during the formal ceremony, without smiling or relaxing.
3.The old door was so stiff that I had to use ___ to open it.
4.She felt stiff in the morning because she didn’t ___ well the night before.
5.When someone stiffs you, they ___ to pay what they owe.
6.The paper was too stiff to ___ without folding it carefully.
7.In the meeting, his stiff attitude made the atmosphere feel very ___.