silence

/ˈsaɪləns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsaɪləns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsī-lən(t)s/ (ame, mw) · /ˈsaɪ.ləns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsaɪ.ləns/ (ame, ipa)

silence — 名詞

  • silencesingular
  • silencesplural

1. a situation or period in which there is no sound at all, so everything is comple

1.名詞A2
釋義

寂靜

完全沒有聲音的狀態

a situation or period in which there is no sound at all, so everything is completely quiet.

例句

A deep silence fell over the forest after the storm had passed.

暴風雨過後，一片深深的寂靜籠罩在森林上空。

collocation: silence falls / descends over [place]

The librarian asked for silence so students could concentrate on their homework.

圖書館員請大家保持安靜，讓學生能專心做功課。

同義詞
  • quiet

    less absolute; can include low-level background sounds

  • stillness

    focuses on lack of movement more than lack of sound

  • hush

    a softer, temporary silence that falls suddenly

反義詞
  • noise

    any sound, especially loud or unpleasant

  • din

    a loud, continuous, unpleasant noise

文法句型

silence + of + [place/time]

silence + in + [place]

in + silence

用法筆記

Often paired with verbs of arrival or change: 'fall', 'descend', 'spread'. Common following prepositions include 'of' (silence of the night) and 'in' (silence in the room).

常見錯誤

❌I love the silence of a busy restaurant.
✅I love the silence of the library at midnight.
💡silence means an absence of sound, not just a peaceful atmosphere.

2. the act or state of not saying anything, especially when people expect you to sp

2.名詞A2
釋義

沉默

不說話或不出聲

the act or state of not saying anything, especially when people expect you to speak or when speech would be normal.

例句

Hiro's silence during the meeting made his colleagues wonder what he was thinking.

Hiro 在會議期間的沉默讓同事們想知道他在想什麼。

possessive + silence + during [event]

There was an awkward silence after Marco asked about the missing funds from the account.

Marco 問到帳戶裡遺失的資金之後，出現了一陣尷尬的沉默。

同義詞
  • speechlessness

    temporary inability to speak due to emotion

  • reticence

    a personality trait of being quiet or reserved

  • muteness

    more extreme; complete refusal or inability to speak

反義詞
  • speech

    the act of speaking

  • talk

    informal conversation or discussion

文法句型

possessive + silence

in + silence

silence + during + [event]

用法筆記

Frequently used with possessive determiners ('his silence', 'their silence') and in the pattern 'in silence'. Distinguish from sense 1 (NO SOUND), which refers to absence of all noise, not just speech.

常見錯誤

❌She kept silence about her weekend plans.' (simple lack of mention).
✅She kept silence about the missing documents during the investigation.
💡silence about something implies a significant or deliberate refusal to speak, not just a failure to mention.

3. a short period of quiet during a conversation when people feel embarrassed, unco

3.名詞B1
釋義

冷場

談話中令人尷尬的停頓

a short period of quiet during a conversation when people feel embarrassed, uncomfortable, or emotionally tense and do not know what to say.

例句

An uncomfortable silence filled the room when no one knew what to say next.

一股令人不自在的冷場瀰漫在房間裡，沒有人知道接下來該說什麼。

[adjective] + silence + fills [place]

Kofi tried to break the awkward silence by telling a funny story about his dog.

Kofi 試圖講一個關於他的狗的有趣故事來打破尷尬的冷場。

break + the + silence

同義詞
  • pause

    neutral; can be planned or natural, not necessarily awkward

  • lull

    a temporary period of quiet in an otherwise active situation

  • gap

    a space in time; less emotional than 'silence' in this sense

反義詞

文法句型

[adjective] + silence

silence + fills + [place]

break + the + silence

用法筆記

Describes a temporary pause in a conversation that carries emotional weight — embarrassment, tension, or sadness. Unlike sense 2 (NOT SPEAKING), this sense always occurs within a social interaction and signals discomfort or emotional charge.

常見錯誤

❌There was a silence between songs at the concert.
✅There was an awkward silence after Tomás asked about the layoffs.
💡this sense describes a pause that feels socially awkward, not any quiet gap between events.

4. when a person or group chooses not to discuss a particular issue, does not answe

4.名詞B2
釋義

緘默

拒絕溝通或回答問題

when a person or group chooses not to discuss a particular issue, does not answer questions directed at them, or cuts off contact with others — often because the matter is serious or they want to withhold information.

例句

The company's silence about the safety problems worried the factory workers deeply.

公司對安全問題的緘默讓工廠的工人們深感憂慮。

silence + about + [topic]

Sivan's silence during the official investigation raised serious questions among staff.

Sivan 在正式調查期間的緘默，在員工之間引發了嚴重的質疑。

同義詞
  • secrecy

    the intentional hiding of information

  • non-communication

    broader; can include lack of contact by letter or phone

  • reticence

    more about personal character; less about a specific refusal to disclose

反義詞

文法句型

silence + about/on + [topic]

maintain/keep + silence

break + one's + silence

用法筆記

Subject is often an organisation or authority figure who has a duty or expectation to speak. Common patterns: 'silence about/on [topic]', 'maintain silence', 'break one's silence'. Frequently appears in news and formal contexts.

常見錯誤

❌His silence on the exam results was due to shyness.
✅The government's silence on the pollution scandal angered local residents.
💡this sense implies a deliberate refusal or suppression of information, not a personal trait like shyness.

silence — 動詞