SILENCE
Dictionary entry overview: What does silence mean?
• SILENCE (noun)
The noun SILENCE has 4 senses:
1. the state of being silent (as when no one is speaking)
2. the absence of sound
3. a refusal to speak when expected
4. the trait of keeping things secret
Familiarity information: SILENCE used as a noun is uncommon.
• SILENCE (verb)
The verb SILENCE has 2 senses:
1. cause to be quiet or not talk
2. keep from expression, for example by threats or pressure
Familiarity information: SILENCE used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• SILENCE (noun)
Meaning:
The state of being silent (as when no one is speaking)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
Context examples:
there was a shocked silence / he gestured for silence
Hypernyms ("silence" is a kind of...):
condition; status (a state at a particular time)
Meaning:
The absence of sound
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Synonyms:
silence; quiet
Context examples:
he needed silence in order to sleep / the street was quiet
Hypernyms ("silence" is a kind of...):
sound property (an attribute of sound)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "silence"):
hush; still; stillness ((poetic) tranquil silence)
speechlessness (the property of being speechless)
quietness; soundlessness (the property of making no sound)
Antonym:
sound (the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause)
Meaning:
A refusal to speak when expected
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Synonyms:
muteness; silence
Context example:
his silence about my contribution was surprising
Hypernyms ("silence" is a kind of...):
uncommunicativeness (the trait of being uncommunicative)
Meaning:
The trait of keeping things secret
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Synonyms:
secrecy; secretiveness; silence
Hypernyms ("silence" is a kind of...):
uncommunicativeness (the trait of being uncommunicative)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "silence"):
mum (secrecy)
• SILENCE (verb)
Meaning:
Cause to be quiet or not talk
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
silence; hush; hush up; still; quieten; shut up
Context example:
Please silence the children in the church!
Hypernyms (to "silence" is one way to...):
conquer; curb; inhibit; stamp down; subdue; suppress (to put down by force or authority)
Cause:
hush (become quiet or still; fall silent)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "silence"):
shush (silence (someone) by uttering 'shush!')
calm down; lull (become quiet or less intensive)
shout down (silence or overwhelm by shouting)
gag; muzzle (prevent from speaking out)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Meaning:
Keep from expression, for example by threats or pressure
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
All dissenters were silenced when the dictator assumed power
Hypernyms (to "silence" is one way to...):
conquer; curb; inhibit; stamp down; subdue; suppress (to put down by force or authority)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
