mute
Mute (adj) means Unable or unwilling to speak; silent. Example: “She stood mute, unable to find the words to respond.”
How to use mute
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSilent, or to make something silent.
Word forms
muter comparative, muted past tense, muted past tense, muted past tense, mutes plural, mutes plural, mutes singular, mutes singular, mutes singular, mutest superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She stood _____, unable to find the words to respond.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman muet, ultimately reshaped to match Latin mutus, meaning "silent" or "dumb."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for mute
See all rhymes for mute →Frequently asked questions
What does “mute” mean?
The word “mute” means unable or unwilling to speak; silent. In plain terms, silent, or to make something silent.
How do you pronounce “mute”?
“Mute” is pronounced myoot (/mjut/ in IPA).
How do you use “mute” in a sentence?
Here is “mute” used in a sentence: “She stood mute, unable to find the words to respond.”
What is another word for “mute”?
Words with a similar meaning to “mute” include aphonic, aphonous, dumb, dumb as a post, mumchance and tongueless.
What is the opposite of “mute”?
The opposite of “mute” — its antonyms — are audible, nonmute, talkative, vocal and voiced.
What part of speech is “mute”?
Depending on how it is used, “mute” can be an adjective, a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “mute” come from?
The word “mute” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman muet, ultimately reshaped to match Latin mutus, meaning "silent" or "dumb.".
Is “mute” a common word?
“Mute” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between mute and silent?
"Mute" as an adjective describes someone unable or unwilling to speak, often implying a physical or emotional cause, whereas "silent" more broadly describes an absence of sound or noise without necessarily involving a person's speech ability. A silent room has no sound at all, while a mute person specifically cannot or does not speak.
What does it mean to mute something like a phone or microphone?
Used as a verb, "mute" means to silence or turn off the sound of something, such as muting a phone call or a television. This modern usage extends the older sense of being silent to actively controlling sound output on a device.
What is a mute in music?
In music, a mute is a physical device used to soften or dampen the sound of an instrument, such as a trumpet mute. This noun sense is distinct from the adjective and verb senses, which relate to human speech or general sound control.