hushed

American  

[huhsht] / hʌʃt /

adjective

1. (of speech) deliberately quiet, especially when silence is prudent, respectful, or requested.

   Only an occasional whisper could be heard among our hushed voices.

2. (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.

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Other Word Forms

• hushedly adverb

Etymology

Origin of hushed

First recorded in 1600–10; hush ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

A doctor talks in a hushed voice to a man and woman outside room 2B.

From Literature

The two stood side by side, the badger and the fox, the fox and the badger, hushed by the magnificence.

From Literature

Hard to say, but Scotland were hushed for too long in this game, too respectful of the visitors, not aggressive enough and too easily brushed off the ball, too flat, not enough edge.

From BBC

She crouched down to speak to us, talking in a hushed voice.

From Literature

The Forest was hushed, but as Wolf took the lead, he seemed eager and unafraid.

From Literature

Related Words

• muted