1
: a very malleable metallic chemical element with atomic number 47 that is capable of a high degree of polish, has the highest thermal and electric conductivity of any substance, and that is used especially in jewelry and tableware, in electronics, and as an antimicrobial see Chemical Elements Table
2
: silver as a commodity
the value of silver has risen
3
: coin made of silver
4
: articles (such as hollowware or table flatware) made of or plated with silver
also
: similar articles and especially flatware of other metals (such as stainless steel)
5
: a nearly neutral slightly brownish medium gray
6
: coho
7
: a silver medal awarded as the second prize in a competition
1
: made of silver
2
: resembling silver: such as
a(1)
: having a white lustrous sheen
(2)
: of or tending towards the color silver
silver fur
a silver gray
b
: giving a soft resonant sound : dulcet in tone
c
: eloquently persuasive
3
: consisting of or yielding silver
4
: of, relating to, or characteristic of silver
5
: advocating the use of silver as a standard of currency
6
: of, relating to, or being a 25th anniversary or its celebration
silvered; silvering
ˈsil-v(ə-)riŋ 
1
a
: to cover with silver (as by electroplating)
b
: to coat with a substance (such as a metal) resembling silver
2
a
: to give a silvery luster to
b
: to make white like silver
Examples of silver in a Sentence
Noun
a bracelet made of silver
an artist who works in silver and gold
a wooden statue inlaid with silver
We need to polish the silver.
Adjective
a dress trimmed with silver ribbon
a distinguished-looking gentleman with silver hair
Verb
The surface of the lake was silvered by the moonlight.
Recent Examples on the Web
Luciano Duque, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2025
Simu Liu also looked the part, pairing a gray two-piece and with a matching silver Rolex Day-Date.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 July 2025
Gemma Allen, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
There’s silver dust in the cells, and some boron and phosphorus, critical additives to increase conductivity and to provide the necessary environment for photons from sunlight to knock electrons loose from the silicon.
—Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 9 July 2025
Laila Lalami, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
Meinhardt’s wife, Lee Kiefer, won gold in women’s foil, and Imboden’s girlfriend, Ysaora Thibus, helped France to silver in the women’s team.
—David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2021
See All Example Sentences for silver
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Noun
Unlike fiat currency, gold and silver reserves cannot be printed or expanded to stimulate economic growth during downturns.
—Luciano Duque, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2025
Simu Liu also looked the part, pairing a gray two-piece and with a matching silver Rolex Day-Date.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 July 2025
Adjective
Other finance and tech players like CrossCountry Consulting, Dual Entry, and Remote have also joined as silver partners.
—Gemma Allen, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
There’s silver dust in the cells, and some boron and phosphorus, critical additives to increase conductivity and to provide the necessary environment for photons from sunlight to knock electrons loose from the silicon.
—Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 9 July 2025
Verb
From The Dream Hotel, which will be published this month by Pantheon.
orning light silvers the glass-brick windows of the Safe-X library.
—Laila Lalami, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
Meinhardt’s wife, Lee Kiefer, won gold in women’s foil, and Imboden’s girlfriend, Ysaora Thibus, helped France to silver in the women’s team.
—David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2021
See All Example Sentences for silver
Cite this Entry
“Silver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silver. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
silver
1 of 3 noun
sil·ver
ˈsil-vər
1
: a soft white metallic element that takes a high polish and is a better conductor of heat and electricity than any other substance see element
2
a
: coin made of silver
b
: articles (as tableware) made of or plated with silver
c
: tableware made of other metals (as stainless steel)
3
: a medium gray
4
: a silver medal awarded as the second prize in a competition
silver
2 of 3 adjective1
: relating to, made of, or yielding silver
silver jewelry
silver ore
2
Medical Definition
silver
noun
sil·ver
ˈsil-vər
: a white metallic element that is sonorous, ductile, very malleable, capable of a high degree of polish, and chiefly monovalent in compounds, and that has the highest thermal and electric conductivity of any substance
—symbol Ag
see Chemical Elements Table
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