- [uncountable] a complete lack of noise or sound synonym quiet
- Their footsteps echoed in the silence.
- A scream broke the silence of the night.
- I need absolute silence when I'm working.
Extra Examples- Celeste's voice penetrated the silence.
- She filled the silence with music.
- Silence reigned.
- We sat in complete silence, save for the ticking of the clock.
- a silence punctuated only by the occasional sniff from the children
- Something was moving in silence along the edge of the woods.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- lengthy
- long
- prolonged
- …
- moment
- maintain
- break
- interrupt
- …
- come over something
- descend
- fall
- …
- in (the) silence
- two minutes’ silence
- three minutes’ silence
- [countable, uncountable] a situation when nobody is speaking
- an embarrassed/awkward/uncomfortable silence
- a moment’s stunned silence
- I got used to his long silences.
- They finished their meal in total silence.
- She lapsed into silence again.
- There was a deafening silence (= one that is very noticeable).
- a two-minute silence in honour of those who had died
- Her accusations reduced him to silence.
- He’s not one to suffer in silence! (= to suffer without telling somebody)
- There was a moment of uncomfortable silence.
- They observed a two-minute silence in memory of the children.
Extra Examples- A heavy silence lingered in the air.
- A stunned silence greeted her announcement.
- A sudden silence fell over the room.
- He lapsed into a sullen silence.
- He thought for a moment, the silence lengthening.
- She fell into long, brooding silences.
- The boys were stunned into silence by this news.
- The rest of the trip passed in relative silence.
- There was a moment's silence before she replied.
- They ate their breakfast in silence.
- They walked in companionable silence.
- We sat and watched in awed silence as she performed.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- lengthy
- long
- prolonged
- …
- moment
- maintain
- break
- interrupt
- …
- come over something
- descend
- fall
- …
- in (the) silence
- two minutes’ silence
- three minutes’ silence
- [uncountable, singular] a situation in which somebody refuses to talk about something or to answer questions
- She broke her public silence in a TV interview.
- silence (on something) The company's silence on the subject has been taken as an admission of guilt.
- the right to silence (= the legal right not to say anything when you are arrested)
- There is a conspiracy of silence about what is happening (= everyone has agreed not to discuss it).
Extra Examples- He has so far kept a dignified silence on the subject.
- There seems to have been a deliberate silence from the newspapers.
- a debate to break the silence surrounding domestic violence
- She maintained a stony silence.
- I took her silence as a no.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- deafening
- dignified
- deliberate
- …
- keep
- maintain
- take as
- …
- surround
- silence from
- a conspiracy of silence
- a wall of silence
- a vow of silence
- …
- [uncountable] a situation in which people do not communicate with each other by letter or phone
- The phone call came after months of silence.
Extra Examples- Lewis finally broke the long silence between them.
- The soldier had broken radio silence to contact his aircraft.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French, from Latin silentium, from silere ‘be silent’.
Idioms
See silence in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee silence in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englisha heavy silence/atmosphere
- a situation when people do not say anything, but feel embarrassed or uncomfortable
a pregnant pause/silence
- an occasion when nobody speaks, although people are aware that there are feelings or thoughts to express
- There was a pregnant pause before she replied.
silence is golden
- (saying) it is often best not to say anything
Check pronunciation:
silence