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
Synonyms
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
Rebecca San Juan, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024
Later in the video, a woman wearing a black cloak and silver mask, whom the actor called the Unknown, jumped out and scared the kids.
—Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
There are 300 cups available to purchase: 200 silver cups with 44 emeralds priced at $1,000, and 100 gold cups with 44 crystals priced at $5,000 (these also come with a coffee table book about the Derby).
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
The mother of three also wore a dainty gold chain necklace, while Kotb wore sleek silver hoop earrings.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
At sixty, Park, who is Korean, has a mop of silver hair and an obscurely regal demeanor.
—Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Featuring a plunging neckline and drop-waist pleated skirt, Zendaya's Loewe dress—sparsely accessorized with two silver bracelets—is a show-stopper in its own right.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 8 Apr. 2024
The music video, filmed in Mexico, complements the song’s themes by showing incomplete elements, such as a hot dog without the meat and Paris without the Eiffel Tower, while the band members travel and perform in a retro silver Airstream trailer.
—Griselda Flores, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024
Ground the look with a cognac loafer, but finish off with a delicate accent, like a sleek silver anklet.
—Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
John Towfighi, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Rihanna upped the edge factor with a silver chain necklace.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2024
It was embellished with hundreds of silver sparkling gems.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
The hotel draws an in-the-know, cultured crowd, especially at Punch Room (another Edition Hotels signature), with J-pop-spinning DJs and communal cocktails served with ladles from silver punch bowls.
—Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2024
The silver supercar has barely been touched since leaving the factory—it was never even registered—and only has delivery mileage on the odometer.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024
The Barbie star accessorized with silver earrings, rings and light purple nails for a look that's both spring-light and weather-ready.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 26 Mar. 2024
Calling it now: Once the warm weather hits, silver sandals—flat ones, specifically—will be your best investment.
—Tatiana Ojea, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
The Omega and Snoopy space connection stems from NASA’s Silver Snoopy award, a silver lapel pin first awarded in 1968 for outstanding achievements related to flight safety or mission success.
—Jeremy White, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2024
David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2021
Imboden’s partner, Ysaora Thibus, helped France to silver in the women’s team foil.
—Rachel Axon, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Aug. 2021
The United States' Jessica Parratto and Delaney Schnell rallied to silver with a score of 310.80 and Mexico's Gabriela Agundez Garcia and Alejandra Orozco Loza took bronze with a score of 299.70.
—Brian Munoz, USA TODAY, 29 July 2021
Her routine earlier in Tokyo earned her a score of 15.4, the highest anyone has received so far, and stepped up to lead Team USA to silver with an unexpected floor routine when teammate Simone Biles pulled out of competition.
—Angela Vang/st. Paul, Time, 28 July 2021
The inside surface of this object is silvered and 100% reflective (or as close to it as practically possible).
—Quanta Magazine, 1 Apr. 2020
These 400 silvered glass panels, tucked into the western edge of that hot, hot desert, are there to generate heat 15 times that amount.
—Laura Mallonee, Wired, 21 Jan. 2020
The grass was silvered with dew, the tears of Aurora, in Roman mythology, the goddess of dawn who wept each sunrise for her dead son, Memnon.
—Maureen Stanton, Longreads, 17 Jan. 2020
His silvered-mirror furniture from the '30s and '40s is all the rage today, but eight years ago this bed ended up in a sleepy sale at Sotheby's.
—Frances Schultz, House Beautiful, 8 Nov. 2012
Noun
The outdoor lounge and a two-car driveway is surrounded by groomed landscaping requiring minimal watering, including geiger trees with tangerine-colored flowers, silver buttonwood, and coontie palm, what early Groveites used to grow to boil and eat as their starch.
—Rebecca San Juan, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024
Later in the video, a woman wearing a black cloak and silver mask, whom the actor called the Unknown, jumped out and scared the kids.
—Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2024
There are 300 cups available to purchase: 200 silver cups with 44 emeralds priced at $1,000, and 100 gold cups with 44 crystals priced at $5,000 (these also come with a coffee table book about the Derby).
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2024
The mother of three also wore a dainty gold chain necklace, while Kotb wore sleek silver hoop earrings.
—Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
At sixty, Park, who is Korean, has a mop of silver hair and an obscurely regal demeanor.
—Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Featuring a plunging neckline and drop-waist pleated skirt, Zendaya's Loewe dress—sparsely accessorized with two silver bracelets—is a show-stopper in its own right.
—Sam Reed, Glamour, 8 Apr. 2024
The music video, filmed in Mexico, complements the song’s themes by showing incomplete elements, such as a hot dog without the meat and Paris without the Eiffel Tower, while the band members travel and perform in a retro silver Airstream trailer.
—Griselda Flores, Billboard, 5 Apr. 2024
Ground the look with a cognac loafer, but finish off with a delicate accent, like a sleek silver anklet.
—Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Related article Why Costco is selling gold bars and silver coins
The People’s Bank of China bought gold for the 17th straight month in March, adding 160,000 ounces to bring reserves to 72.74 million troy ounces of gold, according to Reuters.
—John Towfighi, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Rihanna upped the edge factor with a silver chain necklace.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2024
It was embellished with hundreds of silver sparkling gems.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 8 Apr. 2024
The hotel draws an in-the-know, cultured crowd, especially at Punch Room (another Edition Hotels signature), with J-pop-spinning DJs and communal cocktails served with ladles from silver punch bowls.
—Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2024
The silver supercar has barely been touched since leaving the factory—it was never even registered—and only has delivery mileage on the odometer.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024
The Barbie star accessorized with silver earrings, rings and light purple nails for a look that's both spring-light and weather-ready.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 26 Mar. 2024
Calling it now: Once the warm weather hits, silver sandals—flat ones, specifically—will be your best investment.
—Tatiana Ojea, Glamour, 29 Mar. 2024
The Omega and Snoopy space connection stems from NASA’s Silver Snoopy award, a silver lapel pin first awarded in 1968 for outstanding achievements related to flight safety or mission success.
—Jeremy White, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
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
Imboden’s partner, Ysaora Thibus, helped France to silver in the women’s team foil.
—Rachel Axon, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Aug. 2021
The United States' Jessica Parratto and Delaney Schnell rallied to silver with a score of 310.80 and Mexico's Gabriela Agundez Garcia and Alejandra Orozco Loza took bronze with a score of 299.70.
—Brian Munoz, USA TODAY, 29 July 2021
Her routine earlier in Tokyo earned her a score of 15.4, the highest anyone has received so far, and stepped up to lead Team USA to silver with an unexpected floor routine when teammate Simone Biles pulled out of competition.
—Angela Vang/st. Paul, Time, 28 July 2021
The inside surface of this object is silvered and 100% reflective (or as close to it as practically possible).
—Quanta Magazine, 1 Apr. 2020
These 400 silvered glass panels, tucked into the western edge of that hot, hot desert, are there to generate heat 15 times that amount.
—Laura Mallonee, Wired, 21 Jan. 2020
The grass was silvered with dew, the tears of Aurora, in Roman mythology, the goddess of dawn who wept each sunrise for her dead son, Memnon.
—Maureen Stanton, Longreads, 17 Jan. 2020
His silvered-mirror furniture from the '30s and '40s is all the rage today, but eight years ago this bed ended up in a sleepy sale at Sotheby's.
—Frances Schultz, House Beautiful, 8 Nov. 2012
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'silver.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English seolfor; akin to Old High German silbar silver, Lithuanian sidabras
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of silver was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing silver
Dictionary Entries Near silver
Cite this Entry
“Silver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silver. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on silver
Nglish: Translation of silver for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of silver for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about silver
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