Collocations for silence - noun
1. quietness
ADJ.
lengthy, long, prolonged | brief, momentary, a moment''s, short
There was a moment''s silence before she replied.
There was a moment''s silence before she replied.
deep, hushed | absolute, complete, dead, deadly, deathly, total, utter
We sat in complete silence, save for the ticking of the clock. | A deathly silence hung over the town.
We sat in complete silence, save for the ticking of the clock. | A deathly silence hung over the town.
shocked, stunned | awkward, embarrassed, embarrassing, strained, uncomfortable
An awkward silence followed.
An awkward silence followed.
fraught, heavy, ominous, tense | brooding
She fell into long, brooding silences.
She fell into long, brooding silences.
stony, sullen | eerie | companionable
They walked in companionable silence.
They walked in companionable silence.
expectant, pregnant | sudden
VERB + SILENCE
maintain
She maintained a stony silence.
She maintained a stony silence.
break, interrupt, punctuate, shatter
Lewis finally broke the long silence between them. | a silence punctuated only by the occasional sniff from the children
Lewis finally broke the long silence between them. | a silence punctuated only by the occasional sniff from the children
lapse into, relapse into, retreat into, subside into, trail into (all only used about people)
He lapsed into a sullen silence.
He lapsed into a sullen silence.
stun sb into
The boys were stunned into silence by this news.
The boys were stunned into silence by this news.
be met with
Her question was met with an uneasy silence.
Her question was met with an uneasy silence.
observe
(= as a sign of respect for the dead, etc.) A minute''s silence for the victims will be observed.
(= as a sign of respect for the dead, etc.) A minute''s silence for the victims will be observed.
SILENCE + VERB
descend, fall
A sudden silence fell over the room.
A sudden silence fell over the room.
hang, prevail, reign
Silence reigned.
Silence reigned.
ensue, follow | deepen, grow, lengthen, spread, stretch
He thought for a moment, the silence lengthening.
He thought for a moment, the silence lengthening.
PREP.
in (the) ~
They ate their breakfast in silence.
They ate their breakfast in silence.
2. not saying anything about sth
ADJ.
deafening
The government''s only response has been a deafening silence.
The government''s only response has been a deafening silence.
dignified | deliberate
VERB + SILENCE
keep, maintain
He has so far kept a dignified silence on the subject.
He has so far kept a dignified silence on the subject.
PREP.
~ from
There seems to have been a deliberate silence from the newspapers.
There seems to have been a deliberate silence from the newspapers.
PHRASES
a conspiracy/wall of silence
There is a conspiracy of silence about what is happening (= nobody is willing to talk about it).
There is a conspiracy of silence about what is happening (= nobody is willing to talk about it).
the right to silence
(= the right not to say anything when accused of a crime),
(= the right not to say anything when accused of a crime),
a vow of silence
She has broken her vow of silence on the issue.
She has broken her vow of silence on the issue.