Definition of silently

silentlyadverb

thầm lặng

/ˈsaɪləntli//ˈsaɪləntli/

The word "silently" stems from the Old English word "sīlean," meaning "to speak softly." The "ly" suffix was added to create the adverb, signifying "in a manner of." Over time, the meaning evolved from "softly" to "without sound." This shift was likely influenced by the association of "silence" with the absence of vocalization. Therefore, "silently" came to represent a state of quietness or a lack of sound.

Summary
type phó từ
meaningyên lặng, âm thầm
namespace

without speaking

không nói

Example:
  • They marched silently through the streets.

    Họ lặng lẽ diễu hành qua các đường phố.

without making any or much sound

không tạo ra bất kỳ hoặc nhiều âm thanh

Example:
  • She crept silently out of the room.

    Cô lặng lẽ bước ra khỏi phòng.

  • The car rolled silently downhill.

    Chiếc xe lặng lẽ lăn bánh xuống dốc.

Related words and phrases

without using words or sounds to express something

không sử dụng từ ngữ hoặc âm thanh để diễn đạt một cái gì đó

Example:
  • She prayed silently.

    Cô thầm cầu nguyện.

  • He silently agreed with much of what she had said.

    Anh âm thầm đồng ý với phần lớn những gì cô đã nói.

Related words and phrases

Idioms

sit/stand silently by
to do or say nothing to help somebody or deal with a difficult situation
  • We can’t sit silently by and let them arrest him!