non-speaking

/ˌnɒnˈspiː.kɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌnɑːnˈspiː.kɪŋ/ (ame, ipa)

non-speaking — adjective

1. not making any sound with one's voice during a particular moment or situation

1.形容詞C1
釋義

not making any sound with one's voice during a particular moment or situation

例句

Eri sat as a non-speaking guest at the awards dinner all evening.

attributive use: non-speaking + role noun

The two brothers stayed non-speaking throughout the long car ride to Hamza's house.

predicative use: stay/remain non-speaking

同義詞
  • silent

    everyday word for any length of not talking; 'non-speaking' is more formal and usually sustained

  • mute

    literary or emphatic; can sound dated or insensitive when used of choice

  • wordless

    literary; emphasises absence of words, often emotionally charged

反義詞
  • talkative

    describes a person's general tendency, not one moment

  • vocal

    speaks up readily, often about opinions

文法句型

a non-speaking + noun

remain non-speaking

用法筆記

Almost always attributive (before a noun) or predicative after stay / remain / sit; rarely used as a bare comment about a moment of silence — prefer 'silent' for short moments.

常見錯誤

❌She was non-speaking for a second when she heard the news.
✅She was silent for a second when she heard the news.
💡'non-speaking' describes a sustained state or role, not a brief pause.

2. lacking the physical or developmental ability to produce spoken language, often

2.形容詞C1
釋義

lacking the physical or developmental ability to produce spoken language, often because of disability or a medical condition

例句

Diya works as a teacher at a school for non-speaking children with autism.

collocation: non-speaking children

After the stroke, Kevin's grandfather became non-speaking for nearly six months.

became non-speaking after a medical event

同義詞
  • mute

    older medical term; many in disability communities now prefer 'non-speaking'

  • non-verbal

    common in autism and speech-therapy contexts; sometimes interchangeable

  • speechless

    primarily means temporarily lost for words from emotion, not a lasting condition

反義詞
  • verbal

    able to use spoken language; common in clinical contexts

  • speaking

    neutral opposite when describing children's development

文法句型

non-speaking + person noun

non-speaking children / patients / autistic

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes a lasting condition, not a passing moment of silence. Often paired with a person or group noun (children, patients, autistic adults).

常見錯誤

❌My uncle went non-speaking after the funeral because he was sad.
✅My uncle went silent after the funeral because he was sad.
💡sense 2 is about being unable to speak, not choosing not to.

3. describing an acting role for which the performer appears on screen or stage but

3.形容詞C1
釋義

describing an acting role for which the performer appears on screen or stage but has no lines to deliver

例句

Élise landed her first non-speaking role as a waitress in the wedding scene.

collocation: non-speaking role

Caleb spent two years taking non-speaking parts before he booked a real character.

collocation: non-speaking part(s)

同義詞
  • silent

    as in 'silent role' or 'silent part'; close synonym but less common in casting talk

  • background

    as in 'background role' — broader, includes any role without focus, speaking or not

反義詞
  • speaking

    as in 'speaking part / speaking role' — the standard industry opposite

文法句型

a non-speaking part / role / extra

用法筆記

Used only before a noun for a role / part / extra / character. Distinguish from sense 1: a non-speaking role is a casting category, not a momentary silence of any actor.

常見錯誤

❌The lead actor was non-speaking during the final scene.
✅The lead actor had no lines in the final scene.
💡sense 3 labels the role itself, not what an actor does in one moment.