moment of silence

noun phrase

: a short period of silent thought or prayer

The crowd observed a moment of silence for those who died in the tragedy.

Examples of moment of silence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That night, Iowa State held a moment of silence before the volleyball match with the Hawkeyes, and the Cyclone Marching Band will wear black-and-gold pins this season in Phillips’ memory. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Before the bell ceremony, Highland Park Chief of Police Louis Jogmen and Highland Park Fire Chief Joseph Schrage offered keynote remarks with a moment of silence in between. — Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 14 Sep. 2026

The new moment of silence ensures those sacrifices remain part of the nation's annual remembrance, underscoring that the impact of 9/11 is still being felt a quarter-century later. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

His two sons attended New York public schools, but Spade says their formal observance of the attacks seldom extended beyond a moment of silence. — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026