Mute: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe a person or an event when no sound is made or when someone cannot speak. Also used as a verb to turn off the sound on a device.

• He remained mute during the meeting
• Please mute your microphone during the call

Used to indicate a complete absence of sound, or to make a strong request for someone to stop talking. Can be both a noun and a verb.

• The silence in the room was unsettling
• Silence your phone before the movie starts

Used to describe an environment or behavior that is free from noise, or to ask for reduced noise levels. It's a neutral term.

• It's so quiet in the library
• Can you be quiet while I'm on the phone?

Often used to ask for silence, typically in a gentle or soothing manner. Suitable for calming down noisy situations.

• Hush, the baby is sleeping
• There was a sudden hush when the teacher entered the room

Used to ask someone to be silent in a forceful or impatient manner. It carries a slightly negative connotation.

• Shush the kids, they're too loud
• Shush! We're trying to watch the movie

Repeated entry. See above.

Best used in formal or dramatic contexts where you want to emphasize the absence of sound. It has a more expressive and serious tone.

• He raised his hand to silence the crowd.
• The principal stepped in to silence everyone in the assembly.

Ideal for casual settings and everyday conversation. It is straightforward and easily understood.

• Can you turn off the sound on your phone?
• She turned off the sound before the meeting started.

Most suitable for technical contexts, especially involving software settings where audio functions need to be turned off. Often used in professional and technical documentation.

• You can disable audio in the settings menu.
• The software update includes an option to disable audio notifications.