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
Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 21 June 2024
Washington’s previous Statement Edition uniform, which the team had worn for select games since 2019, was primarily navy blue with a red horizontal stripe across the top and red, white and silver striping down the side of the jerseys and shorts.
—Scott Allen, Washington Post, 21 June 2024
Remy Blumenfeld, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 June 2024
Officers were called to a home in the 2500 block of South Jennings Street shortly after 8 a.m.
The woman shot the man at least twice and then fled the scene in a silver BMW, a Fort Worth police spokesperson said.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 June 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
See all Example Sentences for silver 
Noun
Four years later at Tokyo 2020, Archibald scored gold again in the women's madison, followed by silver in the women's team pursuit.
—Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 21 June 2024
Washington’s previous Statement Edition uniform, which the team had worn for select games since 2019, was primarily navy blue with a red horizontal stripe across the top and red, white and silver striping down the side of the jerseys and shorts.
—Scott Allen, Washington Post, 21 June 2024
Adjective
The silver body paint was flown in from Ecuador on a private jet.
—Remy Blumenfeld, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 June 2024
Officers were called to a home in the 2500 block of South Jennings Street shortly after 8 a.m.
The woman shot the man at least twice and then fled the scene in a silver BMW, a Fort Worth police spokesperson said.
—Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 June 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
See all Example Sentences for silver
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.
Dictionary Entries Near silver
Cite this Entry
“Silver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silver. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
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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