Trish was silent because she was reluctant to put her thoughts into words.
He spoke no English and was completely silent during the visit.
They both fell silent.
Synonyms: mute, dumb, speechless, wordless More Synonyms of silent
silentlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
She and Ned sat silently for a moment, absorbing the peace of the lake.
Most of those attending the funeral stood silently showing little emotion.
Synonyms: mutely, dumbly, in silence, wordlessly More Synonyms of silent
Synonyms: quietly, in silence, soundlessly, noiselessly More Synonyms of silent
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe someone as a silent person, you mean that they do not talk to people very much, and sometimes give the impression of being unfriendly.
He was a serious, silent man.
Synonyms: uncommunicative, quiet, taciturn, tongue-tied More Synonyms of silent
3. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
A place that is silent is completely quiet, with no sound at all. Something that is silent makes no sound at all.
The room was silent except for John's crunching.
The heavy guns have again fallen silent.
Synonyms: quiet, still, hushed, soundless More Synonyms of silent
silentlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Strange shadows moved silently in the almost permanent darkness.
Synonyms: mutely, dumbly, in silence, wordlessly More Synonyms of silent
Synonyms: quietly, in silence, soundlessly, noiselessly More Synonyms of silent
4. graded adjective [v-link ADJabout n]
If someone is silent about something, they do not tell people anything about it, because they think it is a private matter or because they want to keep the information secret.
Douglas was noticeably silent about his feelings for his father.
5. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A silent emotion or action is not expressed in speech.
The attacker still stood there, watching her with silent contempt.
She offered a silent prayer of thanks.
silentlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
Whitlock silently cursed Graham for heaping more suspicion on him.
Synonyms: mutely, dumbly, in silence, wordlessly More Synonyms of silent
Synonyms: quietly, in silence, soundlessly, noiselessly More Synonyms of silent
6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
A silent film has pictures usually accompanied by music but does not have the actors' voices or any other sounds.
...one of the famous silent films of Charlie Chaplin.
...comedy stars of the silent era.
7. adjective
A silent letter in a word is written but not pronounced. For example, the 'k' in the word 'know' is silent.
More Synonyms of silent
silent in British English
(ˈsaɪlənt)
adjective
1.
characterized by an absence or near absence of noise or sound
a silent house
2.
tending to speak very little or not at all
3.
unable to speak
4.
failing to speak, communicate, etc, when expected
the witness chose to remain silent
5.
not spoken or expressed
silent assent
6.
not active or in operation
a silent volcano
7.
(of a letter) used in the conventional orthography of a word but no longer pronounced in that word
the 'k' in 'know' is silent
8.
denoting a film that has no accompanying soundtrack, esp one made before 1927, when such soundtracks were developed
noun
9.
a silent film
Derived forms
silently (ˈsilently)
adverb
silentness (ˈsilentness)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin silēns, from silēre to be quiet
silent in American English
(ˈsaɪlənt)
adjective
1.
making no vocal sound; not speaking; speechless; mute
2.
seldom speaking; saying little; not talkative
3.
free from, or not making, sound or noise; quiet; still; noiseless
4.
a.
not spoken, uttered, or expressed
silent longing
b.
included in the spelling of a word but with no part of the word's pronunciation corresponding directly to it
said of a letter or group of letters
silent b in “debt” and gh in “thought”
5.
withholding knowledge or omitting mention; uncommunicative
6.
not active
factories silent for months
7.
designating or of films without a synchronized soundtrack
8.
not having noticeable symptoms
a silent heart attack
noun
9. [pl.]
silent films
, often preceded by the
Derived forms
silently (ˈsilently)
adverb
Word origin
L silens < prp. of silere, to be silent, still, prob. < IE base *sē(i)-, *sī-, to rest > seed, side, Goth (ana)silan, to cease (of the wind)
Examples of 'silent' in a sentence
silent
Lirael felt she had nothing to talk about or share with them, so she stayed silent, hiding behind her hair.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
Despite the noise, they hadn't got in, and Sam offered up silent thanks to the miller who had built so well.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
The other three men were silent, not part of the conversation in English.
James Grippando A KING'S RANSOM (2001)
In other languages
silent
British English: silent /ˈsaɪlənt/ ADJECTIVE
with no sound If something is silent, it is quiet, with no sound at all.
The room was silent.
American English: silent
Arabic: صَامِت
Brazilian Portuguese: silencioso
Chinese: 沉默的
Croatian: tih
Czech: tichý
Danish: stille
Dutch: stil
European Spanish: silencioso
Finnish: hiljainen
French: silencieux sans bruit
German: still
Greek: σιωπηλός
Italian: silenzioso
Japanese: 寡黙な
Korean: 조용한
Norwegian: stille
Polish: cichy
European Portuguese: silencioso
Romanian: mut
Russian: безмолвный
Latin American Spanish: silencioso
Swedish: tyst
Thai: เงียบ
Turkish: sessiz
Ukrainian: тихий
Vietnamese: im lặng
British English: silent /ˈsaɪlənt/ ADJECTIVE
not talking If you are silent, you are not talking.
She was silent because she did not know what to say.
American English: silent
Arabic: صَامِت
Brazilian Portuguese: calado
Chinese: 沉默的
Croatian: tih
Czech: mlčící
Danish: stille
Dutch: stil
European Spanish: callado
Finnish: hiljainen
French: silencieuxmuet
German: still
Greek: βουβός
Italian: silenzioso
Japanese: 沈黙した
Korean: 조용한
Norwegian: taus
Polish: milczący
European Portuguese: silencioso
Romanian: tăcut
Russian: молчащий
Latin American Spanish: silencioso
Swedish: tyst
Thai: เงียบ
Turkish: sessiz
Ukrainian: мовчазний
Vietnamese: im lặng
All related terms of 'silent'
silent cop
a small hemispherical traffic marker at an intersection
silent alarm
an alarm that alerts security personnel or the police without the knowledge of the intruder or criminal whose presence triggers it
silent butler
a dish with a hinged cover and a handle , in which to empty ashtrays, brush crumbs , etc.
silent killer
a disease that has no obvious symptoms or indications
silent screen
→ the silent screen
silent auction
an auction in which sealed bids are submitted before a certain time
silent majority
If you believe that, in society or in a particular group, the opinions of most people are very different from the opinions that are most often heard in public , you can refer to these people as the silent majority .
silent partner
A silent partner is a person who provides some of the capital for a business but who does not take an active part in managing the business.
silent service
the submarine service
silent witness
a person who observes but makes no comment on or has no involvement in an action
silent revolution
a social or political revolution that takes place with little warning and without great fuss or unrest
silent treatment
a refusal to speak with or acknowledge another person, usually as a sign of contempt or disapproval
the silent screen
silent films, considered as a whole
give someone the silent treatment
If you give someone the silent treatment , you do not speak to them for a period of time because you are annoyed at something they have done .
sleeping partner
A sleeping partner is a person who provides some of the capital for a business but who does not take an active part in managing the business.
Chinese translation of 'silent'
silent
(ˈsaɪlənt)
adj
[person]
(on particular occasion) 沉默的 (chénmò de)
(as character trait) 沉默寡言的 (chénmò guǎyán de)
[place, object]安静(靜)的 (ānjìng de)
[prayer, emotion]默默的 (mòmò de)
[film]无(無)声(聲)的 (wúshēng de)
to fall silent (= stop talking) 不作声(聲) (bù zuò shēng) (= stop making noise) 安静(靜)下来(來) (ānjìng xiàlái)
to be/remain silent about sth对(對)某事守口如瓶 (duì mǒushì shǒu kǒu rú píng)
1 (adjective)
Definition
failing to speak or communicate when expected
They both fell silent.
Synonyms
mute
I threw her a mute look of appeal.
dumb
We were all struck dumb for a minute.
speechless
Alex was speechless with rage and despair.
wordless
mum
I'd be in trouble if I let on. So I kept mum.
struck dumb
voiceless
unspeaking
Opposites
noisy
,
chattering
,
rowdy
,
strident
,
boisterous
,
vociferous
,
riotous
,
uproarious
,
obstreperous
,
clamorous
2 (adjective)
Definition
tending to speak very little
He was a serious, silent man.
Synonyms
uncommunicative
My daughter is very difficult, uncommunicative and moody.
quiet
I told them to be quiet and go to sleep.
taciturn
A taciturn man, he replied to my questions in monosyllables.
tongue-tied
unspeaking
nonvocal
not talkative
3 (adjective)
Definition
producing no noise
The heavy guns have again fallen silent.
Synonyms
quiet
She was received in a small, quiet office.
still
The night air was very still.
hushed
At first we spoke in hushed voices.
soundless
noiseless
Her soft shoes were noiseless on the marble floor.
muted
stilly (poetic)
Opposites
noisy
,
loud
,
piercing
,
deafening
,
tumultuous
,
ear-splitting
,
cacophonous
,
clamorous
4 (adjective)
Definition
not spoken
He watched with silent contempt.
Synonyms
unspoken
There had been an unspoken agreement between them.
implied
She felt undermined by the implied criticism.
implicit
She wanted to make explicit in the film what was implicit in the play.
tacit
a tacit admission that a mistake had been made
understood
The technical equality of all officers was understood.
unexpressed
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dumb
Definition
done or performed without speech
We were all struck dumb for a minute.
Synonyms
silent,
mute,
speechless,
inarticulate,
tongue-tied,
wordless,
voiceless,
soundless,
at a loss for words,
mum
in the sense of hushed
At first we spoke in hushed voices.
Synonyms
quiet,
low,
soft,
subdued,
low-pitched
in the sense of implicit
Definition
expressed indirectly
She wanted to make explicit in the film what was implicit in the play.
Synonyms
implied,
understood,
suggested,
hinted at,
taken for granted,
unspoken,
inferred,
tacit,
undeclared,
insinuated,
unstated,
unsaid,
unexpressed
Synonyms of 'silent'
silent
Explore 'silent' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of implied
Definition
hinted at or suggested
She felt undermined by the implied criticism.
Synonyms
suggested,
inherent,
indirect,
hinted at,
implicit,
unspoken,
tacit,
undeclared,
insinuated,
unstated,
unexpressed
in the sense of mum
I'd be in trouble if I let on. So I kept mum.
Synonyms
silent,
quiet,
dumb,
mute,
secretive,
uncommunicative,
unforthcoming,
tight-lipped,
closemouthed
in the sense of noiseless
Definition
making little or no sound
Her soft shoes were noiseless on the marble floor.
Synonyms
silent,
soundless,
quiet,
mute,
muted,
hushed,
inaudible,
still
in the sense of speechless
Definition
unable to be expressed in words
Alex was speechless with rage and despair.
Synonyms
dumb,
dumbfounded,
lost for words,
dumbstruck,
astounded,
shocked,
mum,
amazed,
silent,
mute,
dazed,
aghast,
inarticulate,
tongue-tied,
wordless,
thunderstruck,
unable to get a word out (informal)
in the sense of still
Definition
undisturbed
The night air was very still.
Synonyms
silent,
quiet,
hushed,
noiseless,
stilly (poetic)
in the sense of tacit
Definition
understood or implied without actually being stated
a tacit admission that a mistake had been made
Synonyms
implied,
understood,
implicit,
silent,
taken for granted,
unspoken,
inferred,
undeclared,
wordless,
unstated,
unexpressed
in the sense of taciturn
Definition
habitually silent, reserved, or uncommunicative
A taciturn man, he replied to my questions in monosyllables.
Synonyms
uncommunicative,
reserved,
reticent,
unforthcoming,
quiet,
withdrawn,
silent,
distant,
dumb,
mute,
aloof,
antisocial,
tight-lipped,
close-lipped
in the sense of understood
Definition
implied or inferred
The technical equality of all officers was understood.