hushed
Americanadjective
-
(of speech) deliberately quiet, especially when silence is prudent, respectful, or requested.
Only an occasional whisper could be heard among our hushed voices.
-
(of a place or situation) having a calm silence, often because those in attendance are being respectful or are waiting to hear something: sitting nervously in the hushed courtroom.
the hushed galleries of a museum;
sitting nervously in the hushed courtroom.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hushed
First recorded in 1600–10; hush ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )
Vocabulary lists containing hushed
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Though the song starts out hushed, the metallic percussion hints at industrial music, and when the strings arrive they lean toward Eastern European-style modal melodies, lending a colorful and slightly kitschy swoon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
But less than five years later, as final seconds ticked away on a 41-27 loss to Oregon on Saturday, fans trudged toward the exits, and that very same stadium sat in hushed disbelief.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026
We sat just a few feet from him, as he conversed with his legal team in hushed tones and spoke to the judge purely to confirm details like his name and age.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
In 1997, the nation's hearts went out to the two young boys, then aged 15 and 12, as they accompanied Diana's coffin through hushed London streets at her funeral.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
“Where’s the ceiling?” she asked in a hushed whisper.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
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