hushed
/hʌʃt/adjective★Intermediate
literaryformal
Quiet and silent, often in a way that suggests reverence, secrecy, or tension.
The courtroom fell hushed as the judge entered.
The courtroom became very quiet as the judge entered.
She spoke in a hushed tone, as if sharing a secret.
She spoke softly, as if sharing a secret.
💡
Often used to describe a deliberate or tense silence, rather than just the absence of noise.
Collocations
hushed tonessoft, quiet speechhushed whispersvery quiet whispers
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related Phrases
hush-hushphrase
secret or confidential
💡Pro Tip
Context Matters
Use 'hushed' to describe a deliberate or tense silence, not just any quiet environment.
📖Word Origin
From Middle English 'hushen' (to quiet), possibly of imitative origin.
📝Usage Notes
Often used in literary or formal contexts to convey a sense of solemnity, secrecy, or tension.
Word Breakdown
hush
to make quiet
root-ed
past participle suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary