silence

silence — noun

1. a situation or period in which there is no sound at all, so everything is comple

1.nounA2
Definition

a situation or period in which there is no sound at all, so everything is completely quiet.

Example

A deep silence fell over the forest after the storm had passed.

collocation: silence falls / descends over [place]

The librarian asked for silence so students could concentrate on their homework.

Common collocations
  • dead silence
  • absolute silence
  • complete silence
  • eerie silence
  • silence of the night
Synonyms
  • quiet

    less absolute; can include low-level background sounds

  • stillness

    focuses on lack of movement more than lack of sound

  • hush

    a softer, temporary silence that falls suddenly

Antonyms
  • noise

    any sound, especially loud or unpleasant

  • din

    a loud, continuous, unpleasant noise

Grammar Patterns

silence + of + [place/time]

silence + in + [place]

in + silence

Usage Note

Often paired with verbs of arrival or change: 'fall', 'descend', 'spread'. Common following prepositions include 'of' (silence of the night) and 'in' (silence in the room).

Common Mistakes

I love the silence of a busy restaurant.
I love the silence of the library at midnight.
silence means an absence of sound, not just a peaceful atmosphere.

2. the act or state of not saying anything, especially when people expect you to sp

2.nounA2
Definition

the act or state of not saying anything, especially when people expect you to speak or when speech would be normal.

Example

Hiro's silence during the meeting made his colleagues wonder what he was thinking.

possessive + silence + during [event]

There was an awkward silence after Marco asked about the missing funds from the account.

Common collocations
  • in silence
  • awkward silence
  • uncomfortable silence
  • long silence
  • pregnant silence
  • break the silence
Synonyms
  • speechlessness

    temporary inability to speak due to emotion

  • reticence

    a personality trait of being quiet or reserved

  • muteness

    more extreme; complete refusal or inability to speak

Antonyms
  • speech

    the act of speaking

  • talk

    informal conversation or discussion

Grammar Patterns

possessive + silence

in + silence

silence + during + [event]

Usage Note

Frequently used with possessive determiners ('his silence', 'their silence') and in the pattern 'in silence'. Distinguish from sense 1 (NO SOUND), which refers to absence of all noise, not just speech.

Common Mistakes

She kept silence about her weekend plans.' (simple lack of mention).
She kept silence about the missing documents during the investigation.
silence about something implies a significant or deliberate refusal to speak, not just a failure to mention.

3. a short period of quiet during a conversation when people feel embarrassed, unco

3.nounB1
Definition

a short period of quiet during a conversation when people feel embarrassed, uncomfortable, or emotionally tense and do not know what to say.

Example

An uncomfortable silence filled the room when no one knew what to say next.

[adjective] + silence + fills [place]

Kofi tried to break the awkward silence by telling a funny story about his dog.

break + the + silence

Common collocations
  • uncomfortable silence
  • embarrassed silence
  • painful silence
  • awkward silence
  • break the silence
Synonyms
  • pause

    neutral; can be planned or natural, not necessarily awkward

  • lull

    a temporary period of quiet in an otherwise active situation

  • gap

    a space in time; less emotional than 'silence' in this sense

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

[adjective] + silence

silence + fills + [place]

break + the + silence

Usage Note

Describes a temporary pause in a conversation that carries emotional weight — embarrassment, tension, or sadness. Unlike sense 2 (NOT SPEAKING), this sense always occurs within a social interaction and signals discomfort or emotional charge.

Common Mistakes

There was a silence between songs at the concert.
There was an awkward silence after Tomás asked about the layoffs.
this sense describes a pause that feels socially awkward, not any quiet gap between events.

4. when a person or group chooses not to discuss a particular issue, does not answe

4.nounB2
Definition

when a person or group chooses not to discuss a particular issue, does not answer questions directed at them, or cuts off contact with others — often because the matter is serious or they want to withhold information.

Example

The company's silence about the safety problems worried the factory workers deeply.

silence + about + [topic]

Sivan's silence during the official investigation raised serious questions among staff.

Common collocations
  • maintain silence
  • break one's silence
  • silence on the matter
  • silence about [topic]
  • complete silence
Synonyms
  • secrecy

    the intentional hiding of information

  • non-communication

    broader; can include lack of contact by letter or phone

  • reticence

    more about personal character; less about a specific refusal to disclose

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

silence + about/on + [topic]

maintain/keep + silence

break + one's + silence

Usage Note

Subject is often an organisation or authority figure who has a duty or expectation to speak. Common patterns: 'silence about/on [topic]', 'maintain silence', 'break one's silence'. Frequently appears in news and formal contexts.

Common Mistakes

His silence on the exam results was due to shyness.
The government's silence on the pollution scandal angered local residents.
this sense implies a deliberate refusal or suppression of information, not a personal trait like shyness.
Idioms

a heavy silence/atmosphere

idiom

A situation where people are quiet because they feel awkward or uneasy.

After his rude comment, a heavy silence filled the room.

The heavy atmosphere at dinner made everyone eat quickly.

a pregnant pause/silence

idiom

A moment of silence that shows people are thinking about something important or emotional.

There was a pregnant pause before Maya announced her decision.

His question was met with a pregnant silence from the audience.

silence is golden

idiom

It is often better to stay quiet than to speak.

When you are angry, remember that silence is golden.

In many meetings, silence is golden for avoiding arguments.

silence — verb

Word family

  • silent
    adjectiveA2
  • silently
    adverbB1
  • silenced
    adjectiveB2
  • silencer
    nounC1
  • silencing
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Silence refers specifically to the complete absence of sound, while quiet suggests a low level of sound rather than none at all — a quiet room may still have the hum of a computer. Stillness focuses on lack of movement rather than lack of noise, though the two often occur together. Hush is a softer, more temporary silence that falls suddenly, often with a sense of expectation or awe. Calm describes an emotional or environmental state of peace that may include gentle background sounds. For example, 'The silence of the temple was absolute' (no sound at all), versus 'The quiet of the garden was interrupted by birdsong' (low, pleasant sounds) and 'A hush fell over the crowd as the speaker stepped forward' (a sudden, expectant quiet).

quiet ↗stillness ↗hushcalm ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • silence falls
  • silence descends
  • silence fills
  • silence reigns
  • silence falls over
  • break the silence
  • maintain silence
  • keep silence
  • moment of silence

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in silence
  • silence is golden
  • a moment of silence
  • dead silence
  • awkward silence
  • pregnant silence

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'silence' entered English through Old French in the 13th century, from Latin 'silentium', meaning 'a state of being still or quiet'. The Latin noun came from 'silēns', the present participle of 'silēre' ('to be quiet or still'). The verb form appeared in English around the 16th century, originally meaning 'to make quiet' and later developing the sense of 'to suppress or forcibly prevent expression'.