silver

1 of 3

noun

sil·​ver ˈsil-vər How to pronounce silver (audio)
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

silver

2 of 3

adjective

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

silver

3 of 3

verb

silvered; silvering ˈsil-v(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce silver (audio)

transitive verb

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
silverer noun

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
Noun
Since steel and silver react to one another, the work’s colors and textures change over time, like skin exposed to sun. Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 In addition to midnight, the new MacBook Air also comes in starlight, space gray and silver. USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024 Fans flocked to stadiums decked out in head-to-toe silver, and arms stacked with friendship bracelets. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2024 Delicate chain necklaces and statement earrings accompany at least a dozen gold and silver cowrie shells tracing row after row of her braids. Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 14 Mar. 2024 One of the standouts is the Heartbreaker collar, available in silver and rainbow and in sizes XS to XL. Marques Harper, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 The teal and silver stroller looks like a normal carrier at the front, but the back sports taillights and a bumper, taking inspiration from a vintage car. Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024 One example, known as the Snettisham Great Torc, was made from sixty-four threads comprised of over 1 kilogram (or 2.2 pounds) of gold and silver. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 Union rocked Hollywood’s hottest color of the night, silver, with a stunning and sparkling gown complete with Tiffany & Co. jewels with just the right pop of color. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024
Adjective
The man always ran to the passenger side of a getaway car—a silver Lexus sedan with distinctive dents on the back right bumper and near the driver’s door. Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 Her only other accessory was a silver handbag, while her beauty look would fit in at Coachella 2024. Fernanda Pérez Sánchez, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2024 According to press reports, Barnett was found in the Ram with a silver pistol still in his hand, his finger on the trigger. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 16 Mar. 2024 Witnesses called 911 to report seeing a suspect drive away in a silver Volvo. Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Her ensemble was finished off with silver jewellery and black patent leather pumps, maintaining a classic yet sophisticated vibe. Alex Kessler, Vogue, 14 Mar. 2024 Her silver Dior Haute Couture gown floated down the red carpet. Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024 The original program, now 25 years old, pits teams from USC and UCLA each year with a similar goal and a silver shovel prize. Samantha Gowen, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024 You are plunged into this eerie twilight where the sky looks a purply, silver color. Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 6 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

Dictionary Entries Near silver

Cite this Entry

“Silver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silver. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

silver

1 of 3 noun
sil·​ver ˈsil-vər How to pronounce silver (audio)
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 adjective
1
: relating to, made of, or yielding silver
silver jewelry
silver ore
2

silver

3 of 3 verb
silvered; silvering ˈsilv-(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce silver (audio)
: to coat with or as if with silver
silverer noun

Medical Definition

silver

noun
sil·​ver ˈsil-vər How to pronounce silver (audio)
: 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

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