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silence definition

si·lence (sī′ləns)

noun

  1. the state or fact of keeping silent; a refraining from speech or from making noise
  2. absence of any sound or noise; stillness
  3. a withholding of knowledge or omission of mention to note an author's silence on a point
  4. failure to communicate, write, keep in touch, etc.
  5. oblivion or obscurity

Etymology: OFr < L silentium < silens: see silent

transitive verb silenced -·lenced, silencing -·lenc·ing

  1. to cause to be silent; still; quiet
  2. to put down; repress
  3. to put (enemy guns) out of action

interjection

be silent

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

silence Synonyms

silence

n.

  1. Absence of sound

    quietness, stillness, hush, utter stillness, the stillness of death, absolute quiet, calm, noiselessness, soundlessness, quiet, deep stillness, stillness of eternal night, loss of signal, cessation of all sound, quietude, hush of early dawn, radio silence, security silence, security blackout, censorship, iron curtain.

    Antonyms noise*, din*, uproar. *

  2. Absence of speech

    muteness, secrecy, taciturnity, reserve, reticence, inarticulateness, golden silence, respectful silence, sullen silence.

    Antonyms talkativeness, glibness, loquacity.


silence

v.

overawe, quell, still; see hush 1, quiet 2.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

silence Usage Examples

Object

  • critic: He promises to furnish answers and arguments needed to silence critics.

Converse of object

  • deafen: Later when I replied giving more detail about my position, there was a long and deafening silence from you.

Adjective modifier

  • stunned: Once he had finished, there was a stunned silence for several seconds.

Modifies a noun

  • reign: Afterward all retire to sleep, and absolute silence reigns.

Noun used with modifier

  • minute: People in Tower Hamlets also observed two minutes silence on November 11 in memory of the war heroes.

Possessives

  • minute: He called for a minute's silence in their honor.
silence usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

silence quotes

Fumbling silence in the White House seeps out over the country like a cold fog over a river bed where no stream runs.

-Acheson, Dean Gooderham

Silentium, stultorum virtus. Silence is the virtue of fools.

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Atimeto be born, and atimeto die; atimetoplant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; Atimetoweep, and atimeto laugh; atimetomourn, and a time to dance: A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

-Bible (Old Testament)

silence quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"silence." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/silence>

APA Style

silence. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/silence

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