Silent
/ˈsaɪlənt/
Definitions
3 meaningsMaking no sound; characterized by absence of sound.
/ˈsaɪlənt/
Making no sound
The library was silent.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're in a movie theater during a quiet scene. The audience is silent – no talking, no crunching popcorn, just the sounds from the screen. That's silent!
👶 For kids: Not making any noise! Like when you're reading a book quietly.
More Examples
She remained silent throughout the entire argument.
The crowd fell silent as the singer began to perform.
How It's Used
"The forest was silent at night."
"He stood silent, contemplating the scene before him."
Not speaking or communicating; refraining from speech or expression.
/ˈsaɪlənt/
Not speaking or communicating
He remained silent during the interrogation.
💡 Simply: Think about when you are asked a question, but you choose not to answer. You can be silent by not speaking even if you have an opinion!
👶 For kids: Not talking or saying anything.
More Examples
She kept silent about her plans.
The company was silent about the merger.
How It's Used
"The government remained silent on the issue."
"He was silent about his past."
The absence of sound.
/ˈsaɪlənt/
A period without sound
There was a long silence after he told the story.
💡 Simply: Imagine you are at a concert when the power goes out! Suddenly, there's absolute silence. No music, no talking, just the absence of sound. That moment is what we call silence.
👶 For kids: When there is no sound.
More Examples
The silence was broken by a sudden crash.
We sat in silence for a few minutes.
How It's Used
"The silence between notes created a sense of anticipation."
"The silence was deafening."
Idioms & expressions
silent treatment
A form of punishment or emotional manipulation where someone ignores and refuses to communicate with another person.
"She gave him the silent treatment after their argument."
a silent majority
The mass of people whose views are not loudly expressed but which are thought to be widely held.
"The politician appealed to the silent majority by focusing on traditional values."
From Latin *silentem* (nominative *silens*), present participle of *silēre* 'to be silent'.
The word 'silent' has been used since the late 14th century. Early usages often referred to the lack of sound, but also extended to the state of being quiet or not speaking.
Memory tip
Think of a library: it is designed to be silent!
Word Origin
"being silent (present participle of *silēre*)"