silence prevail

USAGE SUMMARY

'silence prevail' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a feeling of peace and tranquility after a period of noise or discord, for example: "The sun had set, and a silent peacefulness began to prevail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Or will sterile silence prevail?

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Silence prevailed.

The New York Times

A deep silence prevailed.

The New Yorker

Again silence prevails.

The New York Times - Magazine

This is often where silence prevails.

Harvard Business Review

For the next 30 minutes, silence prevails.

The New York Times

Lights are low; visitors are few; silence prevails.

The New York Times - Arts

Everyone got along".Outside his vine-covered house, silence prevails on the Sharada estate.

The Economist

The music acts as an acoustic buffer between tables; otherwise a paranoid silence prevails.

The Guardian

A culture of silence prevails over what plagues Serbian club football and the perception of Serbia abroad.

The Guardian - Sport

"Without a seductive aura to protect him," writes Ms Sciolino, "he was vulnerable".Within such a culture, political affairs abound; but a code of silence prevails.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "silence prevail" to create a sense of dramatic stillness or to highlight a significant pause after a period of activity or noise. It suggests that the silence is not just present, but also powerful.

Common error

Avoid using "silence prevail" when describing actions that break the silence. "Prevail" suggests dominance, so it's best used when the silence is the prominent condition. For example, don't say "The music prevailed over the silence"; instead, say "The music broke the silence".

Linguistic Context

Intransitive verb phrase. The phrase "silence prevail" functions as an intransitive verb phrase, where "silence" acts as a subject-like noun and "prevail" functions as the main verb, indicating the state of being dominant. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "silence prevail" is a grammatically correct and evocative expression used to describe situations where silence is dominant. Though not very common, as Ludwig demonstrates, it appears in various contexts, including news and media, formal documents, and academic writing. The phrase functions as an intransitive verb phrase, where "silence" is the subject and "prevail" is the verb. Similar expressions include "quiet reigns" and "stillness dominates". Use "silence prevail" to highlight a potent and significant quietude.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quietude prevails

Uses a less common synonym for "quiet", creating a more formal tone.

silence dominates

Emphasizes the power of the silence.

quiet reigns

Replaces "silence" with "quiet" and "prevail" with "reigns", altering the tone slightly.

silence rules

A more forceful way of saying silence is in control.

stillness dominates

Substitutes "silence" with "stillness" and "prevail" with "dominates", indicating a more powerful sense of quiet.

peace overcomes

Changes the focus to "peace" rather than simply the absence of sound, suggesting a positive shift.

silence is present

A more simple and direct statement of silence.

hush descends

Uses a more figurative and evocative expression for the arrival of silence.

calmness takes over

Shifts the emphasis from lack of sound to a state of tranquility.

silence exists

A basic statement of the presence of silence.

FAQs

How can I use "silence prevail" in a sentence?

You can use "silence prevail" to describe a situation where quietness becomes the dominant state after a period of noise or disturbance. For example: "After the storm, a profound "silence prevailed" over the ravaged landscape."

What's the difference between "silence prevails" and "silence reigned"?

"Silence prevails" suggests a current dominant state of quiet, while "silence reigned" implies that the quietness was dominant during a past period. The verb tense makes the distinction.

What can I say instead of "silence prevail" to describe a quiet scene?

You could use phrases like "quiet reigns", "stillness dominates", or "calmness takes over" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "silence prevail" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "silence prevail" is suitable for formal writing. It is grammatically correct and conveys a sense of established or dominant quietude. You can also use more formal alternatives like "quietude prevails".