moment of silence

Definitions

1. A period of silence for quiet meditation, prayer or reflection.
2. A period of silence conducted to honor or provide a gesture of respect to a recently deceased person, as part of the mourning process. May also be conducted following a tragic event or on the anniversary thereof.

Equivalents

Examples

“The pastor always opened his Sunday service with a moment of silence.”

“I believe⟳ children should be allowed to have⟳ a moment of silence in schools. But I do not believe⟳ an amendment allowing school prayer belongs in the Constitution.”

“The principal requested a moment of silence in memory of the two girls who died in a car accident over the weekend.”

“The custom of observing a moment of silence before an athletic event to honor dead people strikes me as meaningless. And arbitrary. Because, if you'll notice⟳, only certain people get⟳ this special treatment. It's highly selective. Therefore I've decided that someday, when the time comes that every single person in the world who dies receives a moment of silence, I will begin⟳ paying attention. Until then, count⟳ me out. It's ridiculous.”

CEFR level