silence

[sahy-luhns]

noun

1. absence of any sound or noise; stillness.

2. the state or fact of being silent; muteness.

3. absence or omission of mention, comment, or expressed concern.

   the conspicuous silence of our newspapers on local graft.

4. the state of being forgotten; oblivion.

   in the news again after years of silence.

5. concealment; secrecy.

verb (used with object)

silenced, silencing 

1. to put or bring to silence; still.

   Synonyms: gag, muzzle, quell, hush

2. to put (doubts, fears, etc.) to rest; quiet.

3. Military.,  to still (enemy guns), as by more effective fire.

interjection

1. be silent! “Silence!” the teacher shouted.

silence

/ ˈsaɪləns /

noun

1. the state or quality of being silent

2. the absence of sound or noise; stillness

3. refusal or failure to speak, communicate, etc, when expected

   his silence on the subject of their promotion was alarming

4. a period of time without noise

5. oblivion or obscurity

verb

1. to bring to silence

2. to put a stop to; extinguish

   to silence all complaint

Other Word Forms

• oversilence noun
• unsilenced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of silence¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English (noun), from Old French, from Latin silentium, derivative of silēre “to be quiet”; silent

Word History and Origins

Origin of silence¹

C13: via Old French from Latin silēntium, from silēre to be quiet. See _silent

Example Sentences

"The silence in our home is a daily reminder," he told the court a fortnight ago, as he gave an emotional victim impact statement.

From BBC

It was a goal that silenced any talk of pressure following the 21-year-old Canada international's high-profile switch from Liverpool in the summer and sparked the Gunners' comeback at the Emirates Stadium.

From BBC

"There was this silence, people were just trying to fathom what had just happened," remembers BBC Radio Newcastle host Simon Pryde, who was in the crowd.

From BBC

The gathering at the Capitol on Wednesday put those victims front and centre - with an added promise that they would not be silenced.

From BBC

Sitting in the cab of an electric lorry for the first time, I am struck by the silence.

From BBC

Related Words

• cut off 
• gag 
• muffle 
• mute 
• muzzle 
• quash 
• quell 
• squelch 
• stifle 
• subdue 
• suppress