Pronunciation: /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Definitions of silence

noun a complete absence of sound

Example Sentences

A1 I enjoy the silence of the countryside.

A2 The teacher asked for silence during the exam.

B1 The awkward silence in the room made everyone uncomfortable.

B2 The silence between them spoke volumes about their strained relationship.

C1 The silence in the courtroom was deafening as the verdict was read.

C2 The profound silence of the library was broken only by the turning of pages.

verb to make someone or something silent

Example Sentences

A1 She silences her phone before going into the movie theater.

A2 The teacher asked the students to silence their cell phones during the exam.

B1 The librarian reminded everyone to silence their devices while in the library.

B2 The conductor signaled for the orchestra to silence their instruments before beginning the performance.

C1 The CEO silenced the room with a single gesture, commanding everyone's attention.

C2 The politician silenced the crowd with her powerful speech, leaving them speechless.

Examples of silence in a Sentence

formal The room fell into complete silence as the speaker began their presentation.

informal Can we please enjoy a moment of silence for the fallen ice cream cone?

slang I told him to silence his phone during the movie, but he ignored me.

figurative Her silence on the matter spoke volumes about her true feelings.

Grammatical Forms of silence

past tense

silenced

plural

silences

comparative

more silent

superlative

most silent

present tense

silences

future tense

will silence

perfect tense

has silenced

continuous tense

is silencing

singular

silence

positive degree

silent

infinitive

to silence

gerund

silencing

participle

silenced

Origin and Evolution of silence

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'silence' originated from the Latin word 'silentium' which means 'stillness, calm, quiet'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'silence' has retained its basic meaning of quietness or absence of sound, but has also come to symbolize deeper concepts such as peace, tranquility, and the act of refraining from speech.