hush

[huhsh]

interjection

1. (used as a command to be silent or quiet.)

verb (used without object)

1. to become or be silent or quiet.

   They hushed as the judge walked in.

verb (used with object)

1. to make silent; silence.

2. to suppress mention of; keep concealed (often followed byup ).

   They hushed up the scandal.

3. to calm, quiet, or allay.

   to hush someone's fears.

noun

1. silence or quiet, especially after noise.

   Synonyms: tranquility, stillness, peace

2. Phonetics.,  either of the sibilant sounds (sh) and (zh).

adjective

1. Archaic.,  silent; quiet.

hush

¹

/ hʌʃ /

verb

1. to make or become silent; quieten

2. to soothe or be soothed

noun

1. stillness; silence

2. an act of hushing

interjection

1. a plea or demand for silence

hush

²

/ hʌʃ /

verb

1. to run water over the ground to erode (surface soil), revealing the underlying strata and any valuable minerals present

2. to wash (an ore) by removing particles of earth with rushing water

noun

1. a gush of water, esp when artificially produced

Other Word Forms

• hushed adjective
• hushedly adverb
• hushful adjective
• hushfully adverb
• unhushing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hush¹

1350–1400; apparently back formation from husht whist ² ( Middle English huissht ), the -t being taken for past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of hush¹

C16: probably from earlier husht quiet!, the -t being thought to indicate a past participle

Origin of hush²

C18: of imitative origin

Synonym Study

See still ¹.

Example Sentences

The resultant album, “Nebraska,” is one of the ’80s most hushed accomplishments and it took an actor of White’s confidence to make that inward journey compelling.

From Los Angeles Times

In the limited coverage of the siege, the isolated Armenians spoke in hushed tones, their faces drawn from months of fear and deprivation.

From Los Angeles Times

Here, as in “Barbarian,” Cregger understands the scary hush of a residential street and the perils of not knowing, or trusting, your neighbors.

From Los Angeles Times

A quiet hush fell over the Chargers’ facility during Thursday’s practice after one of the team’s biggest stars went down with an injury.

From Los Angeles Times

Sandler called the movie “Happy Gilmore” and found a wide audience that loved it for its irreverence about a game that flaunts hushed reverence.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• stillness