# deafening

/ˈdɛfənɪŋ/ (US) · /dˈɛfənɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/deafening
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

to make a sound so loud that it is very hard to hear anything else. You use this when a noise is so strong it fills a whole room or area.

For teachers: to produce a sound of such intensity that it drowns out all other noise. Often used in the passive voice to describe the effect of a loud environment on a quieter sound.

## Examples

- The loud music was deafening in the small room.
- The sound of the waterfall was deafening as we approached the edge of the canyon.
- The sudden silence that followed the explosion was deafening, leaving the crowd in a state of stunned disbelief as they processed the event.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.