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hushed
/hʌʃt/
quiet and silent
The library was hushed, with only the turning of pages breaking the silence.
The library was very quiet, with only the sound of pages turning.
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
Antonyms
Related Phrases
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