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)

, si·lenced, si·lenc·ing.

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 Words From

• over·silence noun
• un·silenced 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

This silence, evoked by the title, describes the organizational omerta under which the IRA operated and the unspoken agreement between its operatives and the people they lived among.

From Salon

A separate thread in the series follows the McConville children over the decades, as they fight an impenetrable code of silence to uncover the truth about their mother.

From Los Angeles Times

A brief yearly silence has once again enveloped South Korea, as half a million students across the country sit for the most important test of their lives.

From BBC

Many follow American specialists like Dr Mary Claire Haver who shares latest research on social media and celebrities like Hollywood actresses Naomi Watts and Halle Berry who have been promoting the documentary The M Factor: Shredding the Silence on Menopause.

From BBC

Joshua Oppenheimer, an Oscar nominee for his documentaries “The Act of Killing” and “The Look of Silence,” made the unusual choice to make his narrative feature debut an original musical.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blackout
• calm
• lull
• peace
• quiet
• reticence
• secrecy
• stillness