26984 words

silence

9 definitions • 20 examples
1
a period without any sound; complete quiet:

Examples:

A loud crash of thunder broke the silence of the night.
Silence reigned (= there was complete silence) in the church.
2
a state of not speaking or writing or making a noise:

Examples:

The soldiers listened in silence as their captain gave the orders.
"Silence! (= Stop talking!)" shouted the teacher.
My request for help was met with silence (= I received no answer).
Their mother's angry words reduced the children to silence.
3
a period of time in which there is complete quiet or no speaking:

Examples:

Their conversation was punctuated by uncomfortable silences.
4
a state of refusing to talk about something or answer questions, or a state of not communicating:

Examples:

My request for help was met with silence (= I received no answer).
Her silence about/on what had happened to her surprised everyone.
I don't expect to hear from her now, after three years' silence (= three years in which she has not spoken or written to me).
5
to make someone or something be quiet:

Examples:

The teacher raised his voice to silence the class (= to make them stop talking).
Her remark about his appearance completely silenced him (= made him unable to answer).
figurative The enemy's guns were silenced (= made to stop firing) in a surprise attack.
6
to prevent someone from expressing their views or from criticizing or opposing someone:

Examples:

Big companies file lawsuits to silence their critics.
The more they try to silence us, the more we will speak out.
Al Capone silenced his opponents by killing them.
7

Examples:

A profound silence spread itself through the sleeping house.
8
a state of not speaking or making noise:

Examples:

[ U ] The two men ate in silence and listened to traffic swishing past on the highway.
[ C ] Her question was followed by a long silence (= a long period of time in which no one spoke).
9
to stop someone from speaking or from criticizing:

Examples:

Successful action could silence the administration’s critics.

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