silent

adjective
UK: /ˈsaɪlənt/
US: /ˈsaɪlənt/

  1. Making no sound.

    1. The library is very silent now. [ ] [ ]
    2. Please be silent during the performance, or you might disturb the actors. [ ] [ ]

  2. Not speaking.

    1. He remained silent after the question. [ ] [ ]
    2. She gave a silent nod, indicating her agreement with the plan. [ ] [ ]

  3. A silent activity involves no talking.

    1. We had a silent auction to raise money. [ ] [ ]
    2. The monks took a vow of silence, engaging in silent meditation and reflection. [ ] [ ]

  4. Not pronounced.

    1. The 'b' in 'doubt' is silent. [ ] [ ]
    2. In the word 'island,' the 's' is silent, which can confuse new learners. [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

quiet mute speechless taciturn
silent verb

  1. To make something become quiet.

    1. She tried to silent the crying baby. [ ] [ ]
    2. The government attempted to silent the protesters by arresting them. [ ] [ ]
silent adverb

  1. Without talking to other people, or giving information to other people.

    1. The company kept silent about the layoffs. [ ] [ ]
    2. Despite the rumors, the CEO remained silent, refusing to comment publicly. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "silent" in English means: Making no sound., Not speaking., A silent activity involves no talking., Not pronounced..

The phonetic transcription of "silent" is /ˈsaɪlənt/ in British English and /ˈsaɪlənt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "silent": quiet, mute, speechless, taciturn.

Example usage of "silent": "The library is very silent now.". More examples on the page.