hush

¹hush

verb \ˈhəsh\

Definition of HUSH

transitive verb

1

: calm, quiet <hushed the children as they entered the library>

2

: to put at rest : mollify

3

: to keep from public knowledge : suppress <hush the story up>

intransitive verb

: to become quiet

Examples of HUSH

1. The woman in the seat behind me was trying to hush her baby.
2. The judge hushed the spectators.
3. The spectators hushed as the judge entered the courtroom.

Origin of HUSH

back-formation from husht hushed, from Middle English hussht, from huissht, interjection used to enjoin silence

First Known Use: 1546

Related to HUSH

Synonyms: calm (down), chill out [slang], cool, quiet, pipe down, settle (down)

Antonyms: act up, carry on, cut up

Related Words: dry up; relax, tranquilize (also tranquillize), unwind, zone out

Near Antonyms: clown (around), fool around, horse around, monkey (around), show off, skylark

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with HUSH

blush, brush, crush, Cush, flush, gush, lush, mush, plush, rush, shush, slush, thrush, tush