silent

- definition

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Thesaurus

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adjective

/ˈsaɪlənt/

Related dictionary definitions

1
a silent person or group of people does not talk, laugh, or make any noise
Everyone was totally silent as the president spoke.
a crowd of silent onlookers
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of silent
1. a.
  used about a person who does not usually talk to other people very much
  Fathers were expected to be strong and silent.
  a silent woman
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of silent
2. b.
  refusing to provide information or to talk about something
  If you are arrested, you have the right to remain silent (=you do not have to give information to the police).
  silent on:
  For the time being, I prefer to stay silent on the matter.
  silent about:
  Everyone was asked to keep silent about the new project.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of silent
3. c.
  a silent action or activity is done without talking or making any sounds
  silent reading
  He said a silent prayer.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of silent
2
a silent place is very quiet
We hiked through a silent pine forest.
The house was silent except for the hum of the refrigerator.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of silent
3
if something such as a disease or problem is silent, there no noticeable signs that it exists
High blood pressure is a silent killer.
a silent infection
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of silent
4
a silent letter is a letter in a word that has no sound when you say the word but that must be used when the word is spelled or written
The ‘h’ in ‘herb’ is silent in American English.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of silent

phrases

fall silent
1. 1
  to stop talking or making a noise
  ‘I’ve said enough’ he mumbled, and fell silent.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of silent
2. 2
  if guns fall silent, they stop firing
  A ceasefire was agreed to and the guns fell silent.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of silent
the silent treatment
behaviour that involves not speaking to someone as a way of showing that you do not approve of them
She’s been giving me the silent treatment all day.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of silent

derived word

silently

adverb

She walked silently towards the door.

This is the British English definition of silent. View American English definition of silent.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

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