Silently
/ˈsaɪləntli/
Definitions
In a way that is free from any sound; without noise or utterance.
/ˈsaɪləntli/
In a silent manner
She closed the door silently so she wouldn't wake the baby.
💡 Simply: It means doing something without making any noise or talking. Like when you're trying to sneak a snack from the fridge!
👶 For kids: When you do something without making any noise at all.
More Examples
He ate his lunch silently, lost in thought.
The leaves fell silently to the ground.
How It's Used
"The cat moved silently through the tall grass."
"The protagonist watched silently as the events unfolded."
"The child processed the information silently."
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."
From Middle English *silently*, from Old English *silente* (adverbial form of *silent*), related to Latin *silens* (silent).
The word 'silently' appears frequently in 19th-century literature to describe scenes of quiet observation and unobtrusive action.
Memory tip
Think of a library where you need to be silent. The word's meaning is directly linked to the absence of sound.
Word Origin
"From Old English *silente* (adverbial form of *silent*), ultimately from the Latin word *silens*, meaning 'silent, still, quiet.'"