hushedhushed /hʌʃt/ adjective [usually before noun] 
A hushed courtroom awaited the verdict.hushed tones/voice/whispers etc (=quiet speech) They spoke in hushed tones at the table.► see thesaurus at quiet
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A hushed congress heard the official declaration of war.
- She spoke in a hushed whisper, "I think my husband knows about us.''
- Two men in dark suits were having a hushed conversation in the corner.
- Between each song, a chant pushes up like a hushed inhale, murmuring from a hesitant corner.
- Everyone in Club World looked all hushed and grateful to be there, but not Luke, who looked exhaustively displeased.
- In the hushed surroundings of a smart restaurant, Boon fiddles enigmatically with a fob watch on a neck chain.
- Lately there had been too many hushed conversations and long telephone calls behind the doors of their London apartment.
- The lights dim and hushed expectancy shudders through the packed house.
- They returned two hours later, when the foreman addressed the hushed courtroom with their unanimous verdicts.
- They wait hushed, like the crowd before the soldiers, each waiting to see what the others will do.
THESAURUSa quiet sound or voice
not making a loud sound: · I heard a quiet voice behind me.· a car with a quiet engine
quiet – especially because you do not want people to hear or be disturbed: · Doug was on the phone, speaking in a low voice.· I turned the volume down low.
quiet and pleasant to listen to: · Soft music was playing in the background.· His voice was soft and gentle.
not making any sound at all: · a silent prayer· silent laughter· The machines were virtually silent.
deliberately quiet because you do not want people to hear – used about people’s voices: · They were talking about money in hushed tones.· The doctor’s voice was hushed and urgent.
quiet and difficult to hear because it comes from a long way away: · The men went ahead and their voices got fainter and fainter.· the faint sound of bells
difficult to hear, for example because the sound comes from another room or someone’s mouth is covered by something: · Muffled voices were coming from downstairs.· the muffled sound of someone crying
[only before noun] a dull sound is not loud – used especially about the sound of something hitting another thing: · He hit the ground with a dull thud.
too quiet to hear: · The sound is inaudible to the human ear.· Her answer came in an almost inaudible whisper.
Longman Language Activatorwords for describing music, sounds, or voices that are quiet quiet sounds, voices, or music are not loud: · He spoke in a quiet yet confident voice.· There was a quiet knock at the door.
a low voice or sound is quiet and deep: · A low humming noise was coming from the refrigerator.in a low voice (=speaking quietly): · 'Take care,' he said in a low voice.
soft sounds, voices, or music are quiet, gentle, and pleasant: · He spoke with a soft Irish accent.· a whisper so soft that I could scarcely hear it· With candlelight and soft music, you can create a romantic atmosphere in your own home.
muffled voices or sounds are quiet and unclear, especially because they come from behind a wall or door: · We heard muffled shouts and screams from the bar below.· His voice was muffled, "I'm in the bathroom. I'm stuck."
a hushed voice, conversation, crowd etc is intentionally quiet, for example because someone is afraid of being heard or because they are waiting for some important news: · Two men in dark suits were having a hushed conversation in the corner.· A hushed congress heard the official declaration of war.· She spoke in a hushed whisper, "I think my husband knows about us."
a faint sound is quiet and difficult to hear, especially because it comes from a long way away : · Jean opened the window, and heard the faint sound of the bells drifting across the Old Town.· The men went away, and we could hear their voices get fainter and fainter.· There was silence for a moment as they held each other's eyes, broken only by the faint sound of dance music from down below.
formal inaudible sounds are so quiet that you cannot hear them: · Her voice was so faint, it was almost inaudible.· Michael went bright red, and muttering something inaudible, he walked out of the room.· Aunt Jessica let out an inaudible sigh.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
quiet because people are listening, waiting to hear something, or talking quietly: (=quiet speech) They spoke in hushed tones at the table.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES They spoke in hushed tones at the table.· They sat at the far end of the carriage, talking in hushed tones.
· They spoke in the hushed whispers of churchgoers.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· From the hushed tones of the conversations, I knew what was happening.· They relate the story in a hushed tone, watching carefully for a reaction.· We talk, using the hushed tones you would reserve for a furtive conversation in church.· They sat at the far end of the carriage, talking in hushed tones.
· Sometimes, in hushed voices in the evenings, I heard my mum and the Quigleys talking about money.· The cars stopped and everyone got out, standing around in little groups, talking in hushed voices.· Theirs was a twilight world of hushed voices, concealed books and illegal exhibitions.· She told Antonia about it in a hushed voice the night her friend came to sleep over at her house.· Then came Budapest, the Embassy where people talked in hushed voices.
A hushed courtroom awaited the verdict.hushed tones/voice/whispers etc (=quiet speech) They spoke in hushed tones at the table.► see thesaurus at quiet