si ‧ lent W3 /ˈsaɪlənt/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ silence , ↑ silencer ; verb : ↑ silence ; adverb : ↑ silently ; adjective : ↑ silent ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: present participle of silere 'to be silent' ]
1 . NOT SPEAKING
a) not saying anything:
Alan was silent.
remain/stay/keep silent
She kept silent, forcing Buchanan to continue.
The crowd fell silent (=became silent) when the President appeared.
b) [only before noun] not talking much to other people
the strong silent type (=a man who looks strong and does not talk very much)
REGISTER
Silent is used mainly in writing. In everyday English, people usually use not say anything rather than be silent :
▪
She didn’t say anything, so I carried on.
▪
The article doesn’t say anything about religion.
2 . NOT COMMUNICATING failing or refusing to talk about something or express an opinion
silent on/about
The report was silent on the subject.
3 . QUIET without any sound, or not making any sound:
The large house was silent and lonely.
At last the guns fell silent.
Julie offered up a silent prayer that she would pass her exam.
as silent as the grave (=completely silent in a mysterious or uncomfortable way)
4 . FILMS [only before noun] a silent film has pictures but no sound
5 . LETTER a silent letter in a word is not pronounced:
The ‘w’ in ‘wreck’ is silent.
—silently adverb :
He sat silently by the bed.