hush

1 of 3

verb

ˈhəsh 

hushed; hushing; hushes

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

hush

2 of 3

adjective

1

archaic : silent, still

2

: intended to prevent the dissemination of certain information

hush money

hush

3 of 3

noun

: a silence or calm especially following noise : quiet

Synonyms of hush

Verb

• cool
• settle (down)

Noun

• restfulness
• quiet
• serenity
• quietness
• sereneness
• silence
• calm

Examples of hush in a Sentence

Verb

The woman in the seat behind me was trying to hush her baby.

The judge hushed the spectators.

The spectators hushed as the judge entered the courtroom.

Noun

the storm passed, and a hush fell over the sea

a hush fell over the auditorium as the lights went down

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The impact is lavish yet hushed; welcoming yet sharply articulated. — Genevieve Walker, Architectural Digest, 2 Aug. 2026

But within the cozy world of footballing governance, any dissent was mostly hushed—except in Norway. — Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 July 2026

Adjective

Stern, who didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment, had called the lawsuit a shakedown, accusing Kuhn of attempting to extract a hush-money payment from him and his production company. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026

The former president pleads not guilty to 34 felony charges of falsifying business records stemming from his hush payment to Daniels. — Jessie Dimartino, ABC News, 29 July 2026

Noun

The hush over the Atlantic is due to a worldwide weather phenomenon known as El Niño, which is linked with more storm shear over the Atlantic that stamps out hurricane formation. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026

The hush of the trees, the shrine bells, the onsen waters of those ancient inns. — David Hochman, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

1546, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1650, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hush

• hush-hush
• hush money
• hush puppy
• hush up
• hush up (someone or something)

Rhymes for hush

• blush
• brush
• crush
• flush
• gush
• lush
• mush
• plush
• shush
• slush
• thrush
• airbrush

Kids Definition

hush

1 of 2 verb

ˈhəsh 

1

: to make quiet, calm, or still : soothe

hush a baby

2

: to become quiet

3

: to keep from public knowledge : suppress

hush up the crime

hush

2 of 2 noun

: a silence or calm especially following noise