WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
si•lent /ˈsaɪlənt/USA pronunciation
adj.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- of or relating to silence:the silent desert.
- not speaking;
not wishing to speak:silent observers. - speechless;
mute:silent from birth. - done in the absence of speech or sound:silent prayers.
- unspoken;
done without saying because it is understood:a silent assent. - omitting mention of something, as in a narrative:The records are silent about his crime.
- Linguistics(of a letter) not pronounced, as the b in doubt.
- Show Business(of a film) not having a soundtrack:the old silent movies.
n. [countable]
- Usually, silents. [plural;
the + ~] silent films.
si•lent
(sī′lənt),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
si′lent•ly, adv.
si′lent•ness, n.
- making no sound;
quiet;
still:a silent motor. - refraining from speech.
- speechless;
mute. - not inclined to speak;
taciturn;
reticent. - characterized by absence of speech or sound:a silent prayer.
- unspoken;
tacit:a silent assent. - omitting mention of something, as in a narrative:The records are silent about this crime.
- inactive or quiescent, as a volcano.
- not sounded or pronounced:The "b'' in "doubt'' is a silent letter.
- Show Business[Motion Pictures.]not having spoken dialogue or a soundtrack.
- Medicineproducing no symptoms:silent gallstones.
n.
- Usually, silents. silent films.
- Latin silent- (stem of silēns), present participle of silēre to be quiet; see -ent
- 1555–65
si′lent•ness, n.
- 1. soundless. See still 1. 8. dormant.
- 1. noisy. 4. talkative.
'silently' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
aloud
- frame
- loud
- lurcher
- movieoke
- self-talk
- tiptoe
- acquiesce
- glum
- mouth
- sound camera
- still alarm
- still trailer
- stilly
- sullen