adv · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈsaɪləntli/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S AY1 L AH0 N T L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In a silent manner; making no noise.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Of an edit or change to a text, without explicit acknowledgment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adverb
Meaning 3
without speaking
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he sat mutely next to her
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: mutely, wordlessly, taciturnly
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English silent Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English silently From silent + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
41 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Belarusian:
ці́ха
(cíxa)
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Breton:
didrouz
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Catalan:
silenciosament
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Czech:
tiše
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Czech:
neslyšně
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Dutch:
stilletjes
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Esperanto:
silente
— in a silent manner; making no noise
French:
silencieusement
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Galician:
silenciosamente
— in a silent manner; making no noise
German:
still
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Greek:
αθόρυβα
(athóryva)
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Ancient Greek:
σιγῇ
(sigēî)
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Ancient Greek:
σιωπῇ
(siōpēî)
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Ancient Greek:
ἀκήν
(akḗn)
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Hungarian:
csendesen
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Hungarian:
csendben
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Hungarian:
hangtalanul
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Hungarian:
némán
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Ido:
silence
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Italian:
silenziosamente
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Latin:
silenter
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Norwegian:
stille
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Norwegian Bokmål:
lydløst
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Polish:
cicho
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Polish:
bezdźwięcznie
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Polish:
bezgłośnie
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Polish:
bezszelestnie
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Polish:
bezszmerowo
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Portuguese:
silenciosamente
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Russian:
молчали́во
(molčalívo)
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Russian:
безмо́лвно
(bezmólvno)
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Russian:
мо́лча
(mólča)
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Russian:
ти́хо
(tíxo)
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Sanskrit:
तूष्णीम्
(tūṣṇīm)
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Spanish:
silenciosamente
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Spanish:
callando
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Spanish:
callandito
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Spanish:
chiticallando
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Spanish:
calla callando
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Tocharian B:
ām
— in a silent manner; making no noise
Turkish:
sessizce
— in a silent manner; making no noise