hushed

UK: /ˈhʌʃt/ US: /hʌʃt/

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

hushed /hʌʃt/  adj. 

1. quiet:
   the hushed countryside.

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

hush /hʌʃ/   interj. 

1. This word is used as a command to be silent or quiet:
   Hush, child, they'll hear you.

v. 

2. to cause to become silent or quiet:
   [~ + object] We hushed the children when the mayor began his speech.
3. to suppress mention of;
   keep concealed: [~ + up + object]
   to hush up a scandal.
   [~ + object + up]
   to hush it up quickly.
4. to make calm:
   [~ + object] to hush someone's fears.

n. [countable* usually singular]

5. silence or quiet, esp. after noise;
   stillness:
   A hush fell over the crowd.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hush  (hush), interj. 

1. (used as a command to be silent or quiet.)

v.i. 

2. to become or be silent or quiet:
   They hushed as the judge walked in.

v.t. 

3. to make silent; silence.
4. to suppress mention of;
   keep concealed (often fol. by up):
   They hushed up the scandal.
5. to calm, quiet, or allay:
   to hush someone's fears.

n. 

6. silence or quiet, esp. after noise.
7. Phonetics either of the sibilant sounds (sh) and (zh).

adj. 

8. [Archaic.] silent;
   quiet.

• apparently back formation from husht whist² (Middle English huissht), the -t being taken for past participle suffix 1350–1400

hush•ed•ly  (hush′id lē, husht′lē), adv.  hush′ful, adj. 
hush′ful•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 6. peace, stillness, tranquillity.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hush / hʌʃ/ verb

1. to make or become silent; quieten

noun

1. stillness; silence

interjection

1. a plea or demand for silence

Etymology: 16th Century: probably from earlier husht quiet!, the -t being thought to indicate a past participle

hushed adjective