1. The absence of sound
   "he needed silence in order to sleep";
   - quiet
    
2. The state of being silent (as when no one is speaking)
   "there was a shocked silence"; "he gestured for silence"
    
3. A refusal to speak when expected
   "his silence about my contribution was surprising";
   - muteness
    
4. The trait of keeping things secret
   "His silence on the matter led to speculation";
   - secrecy, secretiveness

1. Cause to be quiet or not talk
   "Please silence the children in the church!";
   - hush, quieten [Brit], still, shut up, hush up
    
2. Keep from expression, for example by threats or pressure
   "All dissenters were silenced when the dictator assumed power"

1. Be silent
   - hush, sh, shh, shush [informal], be quiet, whisht [UK, Ireland, dialect]

Derived forms: silenced, silencing, silences

Type of: condition, conquer, sound property, stamp down, status, subdue, suppress, uncommunicativeness

Antonym: louden

Encyclopedia: Silence