silence Definition
- 1complete absence of sound
- 2refusal or failure to speak
Using silence: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "silence" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The silence in the library was deafening.
Example
She broke the silence by coughing.
Example
His silence on the matter spoke volumes.
Example
The protesters stood in silence.
silence Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with silence
dead silence
a complete absence of sound, often used to describe an eerie or unsettling atmosphere
Example
After the explosion, there was dead silence in the room.
Example
When asked about the incident, he remembered that silence is golden and chose not to comment.
Example
Her silence on the matter spoke volumes about how she felt.
Origins of silence
from Old French 'silens', from Latin 'silere', meaning 'be quiet'
Summary: silence in Brief
The term 'silence' [ˈsaɪləns] refers to the complete absence of sound or the refusal/failure to speak. It can be used to describe a quiet environment, like 'The silence in the library was deafening,' or a person's lack of speech, like 'His silence on the matter spoke volumes.' Phrases like 'dead silence' and 'silence is golden' are commonly used to describe eerie atmospheres and the idea that it is often better to remain silent than to speak.