silence
181
4.0
- noun
- /ˈsaɪləns/
:
silencio
- Shall I take your silence as a yes answer?
- break the silence
- maintain a silence
- a conspiracy of silence
There's a silence which is not a silence of absence.
- There's a silence which is not a silence of absence.
- And, and I I thought the silence was what was was deafening.
- The time for silence on the issue has come and gone.
- I should be filling this silence with conversation.
- He said, I speak only when it adds more value than silence.
- But much like a monk, I'm taking a vow of silence.
- So isn't it time now, you know, and they've been allowed to maintain this silence, that little group, right?
- Yeah, well, is there a map of the silence in Washington state around Jeffrey Epstein?
- I mean, at some point you get angry when silence is consent, but you understand.
- And and so doing violence or whatever people are, are saying now white silence is violence or whatever.
- Oh, adventure, your silence has given me pause for thought.
- Most people in narcissistic relationships self silence and self silence for a long time.
Examples
-
The outbreak of revolution in Syria in March 2011 was met with silence in Washington.
Academic text (2013) -
After weeks of silence from her friend, she began to worry about him.
-
The time for silence on the issue has come and gone.
-
Your silence tells me what I already know.
-
When they were finished, I held up my hands for silence and began to read.
Fiction book (1990) -
Then I will judge you in silence.
-
I should be filling this silence with conversation.
-
The ringmaster removed his hat and called for silence so that the two above could concentrate.
Fiction book (1990) -
They took a vow of silence.
-
Wade's only answer for Lillian or the viewer who takes her perspective is silence accompanied by deep hurt and defeat.
Academic text (2017)
Synonyms
165
4.4
Keeping information hidden from other people
22
7.7
Silence about a secret
16
5.5
Refusing to speak to someone to show you are angry or upset
10
7.8
A feeling of not wanting to speak or share thoughts
6
4.3
A tense pause in a conversation that makes people feel uncomfortable
3
8.1
An agreement to stay silent to hide something wrong
3
7.2
A group's choice to stay silent to protect members from blame
3
4.6
A complete, very noticeable lack of sound when no one answers
1
6.8
Not speaking because someone cannot or chooses not to speak
1
9.9
A choice not to speak to avoid giving information
A deliberate refusal to speak or share information with others
An agreement between people not to speak about something
Idioms
- Informal
To speak or act forcefully to confront a problem instead of staying quiet
- Informal
Not speaking is often better than saying things you do not need to say
Compounds
- Jargon
2
9.5
An unwritten rule among police officers not to report a colleague's illegal actions to protect them from punishment
How Silent
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Silence comes from the Latin silēre 'to be quiet', the same root as silent, so a person's silence is them choosing not to speak or keeping something secret.