silence

UK: /ˈsaɪləns/ US: /ˈsaɪləns/ ,(sī′ləns)

Inflections of 'silence' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

silences

v 3rd person singular

silencing

v pres p

silenced

v past

silenced

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

si•lence /ˈsaɪləns/   n., v., -lenced, -lenc•ing, interj. 
n. [uncountable]

1. absence of sound or noise;
   stillness:
   the silence of deep space.
2. the state or fact of being silent:
   He received the news with silence.
3. absence of mention or comment, as for keeping something secret:
   governmental silence about the scandal.

v. [~ + object]

4. to put to silence;
   still:
   The teacher could silence the class with just one stern look.
5. to put (doubts, etc.) to rest;
   quiet:
   Her performance silenced all doubts about her talent.

interj. 

6. (used as a command) to be silent:
   "Silence!'' she snapped.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

si•lence  (sī′ləns), n., v., -lenced, -lenc•ing, interj. 
n. 

1. absence of any sound or noise;
   stillness.
2. the state or fact of being silent;
   muteness.
3. absence or omission of mention, comment, or expressed concern:
   the conspicuous silence of our newspapers on local graft.
4. the state of being forgotten;
   oblivion:
   in the news again after years of silence.
5. concealment;
   secrecy.

v.t. 

6. to put or bring to silence;
   still.
7. to put (doubts, fears, etc.) to rest;
   quiet.
8. Military to still (enemy guns), as by more effective fire.

interj. 

9. be silent! "Silence!'' the teacher shouted.

• Latin silentium. See silent, -ence
• Old French
• Middle English (noun, nominal) 1175–1225

Synonyms

• 6. hush, quell, muzzle, gag.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

silence / ˈsaɪləns/ noun

1. the state or quality of being silent
2. the absence of sound or noise; stillness
3. refusal or failure to speak, communicate, etc, when expected: his silence on the subject of their promotion was alarming
4. a period of time without noise
5. oblivion or obscurity

verb (transitive)

1. to bring to silence
2. to put a stop to; extinguish: to silence all complaint

Etymology: 13th Century: via Old French from Latin silēntium, from silēre to be quiet. See silent