become silent

USAGE SUMMARY

"become silent" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You could use it to express that someone has stopped speaking or is now quiet. For example, "As soon as he finished speaking, the room became silent."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nor can much be done for those who have become silent carriers of the hepatitis B virus without ever becoming clinically sick.

The New York Times - Science

Traffic jams would become silent.

The Guardian

"Whole phalanxes of them turn mutinous, become silent killers.

The New York Times - Health

"They want to force her to become silent, and I don't think it will happen".

The New York Times

Origin unknown "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter".

Independent

Mr Buruma writes of cities that had become "silent wildernesses" where people ate grasshoppers and rats.Magnanimity came later.

The Economist

As Martin Luther King, Jr said: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter".

The Guardian - Sport

"They think that by … taking away people's rights [to take office] then Hong Kong people will become silent.

The Guardian

As Martin Luther King said: "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter".

The Guardian

Under oppression, intellectuals — the people who are supposed to have good memories — are the first to become silent after being administered amnesia by the state.

The New York Times

She greeted each one and was quickly caught up with their lives before they become silent for Ms. Melendez to read their blood pressure.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "become silent" to describe a transition to a state of quiet, whether literal (a room becoming quiet) or figurative (someone ceasing to express opinions).

Common error

Avoid using "become silent" in situations where simpler terms like "quieted" or "stopped talking" would be more appropriate. Overusing it can make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become silent" functions as a verb phrase indicating a change of state, where something or someone transitions into a state of quiet or lack of sound. It describes the process of ceasing to make noise, as supported by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "become silent" is a versatile expression used to describe the transition into a state of quietness. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and frequently employed across diverse writing styles, from news reports to scientific papers. Common alternatives include ""fall silent"" and ""grow quiet"". While widely applicable, it's advisable to avoid overuse in overly dramatic contexts to maintain clarity and impact. With a solid grammatical structure and diverse usage, "become silent" is a valuable addition to any writer's toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fall silent

Emphasizes the action of transitioning into silence.

grow quiet

Suggests a gradual decrease in noise or speech.

lapse into silence

Implies a temporary state of quietness, often after a period of activity.

cease speaking

Focuses specifically on the stopping of speech.

go mute

Indicates a complete inability or unwillingness to speak.

hush up

A more informal way to describe becoming quiet, often suddenly.

quiet down

Implies a reduction in noise or activity, leading to silence.

become soundless

Focuses on the complete absence of sound.

go still

Implies becoming motionless as well as silent.

lose one's voice

Indicates losing the ability to speak, either literally or figuratively.

FAQs

How can I use "become silent" in a sentence?

You can use "become silent" to describe a transition to a state of quiet, as in "The audience "became silent" as the speaker began" or "The engine "became silent" after the key was turned".

What are some alternatives to "become silent"?

Alternatives include "fall silent", "grow quiet", or "lapse into silence", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "became silence" instead of "become silent"?

No, "became silence" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "become silent", where "silent" is an adjective describing the state of being.

What's the difference between "become silent" and "fall silent"?

"Become silent" is a more general term for transitioning into silence. "Fall silent" often implies a more sudden or dramatic shift into quietness.