shush

American

[shuhsh, shoosh] / ʃʌʃ, ʃʊʃ /

interjection

hush (used as a command to be quiet or silent).

verb (used with object)

to order (someone or something) to be silent; hush.

shush British

/ ʃʊʃ /

interjection

be quiet! hush!

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

to silence or calm (someone) by or as if by saying "shush"

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

shusher noun

Etymology

Origin of shush

First recorded in 1920–25; imitative

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.

His friends groaned and tried to shush him; he waved them off.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2026

At one point, it appeared he told someone in the room to "shush" their mouth.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2025

That’s where finding a quiet space to meditate or write in her journal helped shush McClernon’s self-doubt.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 8, 2024

“I’ll tell you what, if you shush up, I’ll meet with you immediately after this, OK?” the president said.

From Washington Times • Sep. 29, 2023

Aunt Kate scooted across to sit next to me, whispering shush over and over again.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023