silly

SI-lee/ˈsɪ.li/

Adjectivesillier, silliest

Noun pluralsillies

Adverbsillier, silliest

16 meanings of silly

Practice

1
funnyadjective
Funny because of foolish actions or a foolish look.
Like a clown's big red nose: it makes people laugh because it looks foolish.
He wore a silly hat with rubber ducks glued all over it.
She made silly faces until the baby finally laughed.
Similarridiculous, absurd, ludicrous, comical, goofy
Oppositeserious
2
unwiseadjective
Not thinking carefully about what you do or say.
It was silly of me to leave my phone on the bus.
He took a silly risk by driving with almost no gas.
UsageSay don't be silly, or it's silly to do something.
Similarfoolish, unwise, stupid, thoughtless, careless
Oppositesensible, wise, prudent
Note
3
nounendearing
A person being foolish in a playful way. It is often said kindly to someone, as in 'Come here, silly.'
Come on, silly, put your coat on before we go.
You don't need to knock, silly. Just come in!
UsageOften at the end of a sentence: of course you can come, silly.
Similargoose, goof
Note
4
far too bigadjective
So big that it is hard to believe, especially a price.
The tickets cost a silly amount of money.
They want a silly price for that tiny apartment.
UsageSay silly money or silly prices.
Similarridiculous, crazy, absurd, outrageous, exorbitant
Oppositereasonable, modest
Note
5
foolishlyadverbdialectal
In a foolish or playful way, without thinking.
Don't talk silly. We can't buy a new car right now.
The kids were running around silly before bedtime.
UsageYou can say talk silly. In formal writing, use in a silly way.
Similarfoolishly
Oppositesensibly
Note
6
adjectivedialectalNorthern EnglandScotland
Having little worth or use, often said about poor land.
It is naturally very poor, ‘silly’ land.
1907, Transactions of the Highland & Agricultural Society, 19Here, silly means poor and worthless, land of little use.
Ane sillie scheill vnder ane erdfast stane
a. 1500, Aesop, Two Mice
Similarpoor, worthless
Note

Less common meanings

7
mistakenouncolloquialcountable
A mistake, like getting something wrong without meaning to.
Oops, that was a silly. I typed the wrong phone number.
She makes a few sillies whenever she rushes her homework.
Similarmistake, error, blunder, slip
8
dazedadjective
Not able to think clearly because of a shock or a hard hit.
The ball hit him on the head and knocked him silly for a minute.
She walked into the open cupboard door and knocked herself silly.
UsageSay knocked silly or scared silly.
Similarsenseless, dazed, stunned
Note
9
cricket (close)adjective
In cricket, used for a fielding spot very close to the player who is batting.
Like standing right next to someone who is swinging a bat: that is how close the fielder stands.
He stood at silly point, so close he could almost touch the bat.
She crouched at silly point and caught the ball right off the bat.
UsageSay silly point or silly mid-on.
Note
10
adjectiverare
Plain and simple, like life in the countryside.
Dauid had no more but a sylie slynge, and a few stones.
1570, John Foxe, Actes & MonumentesHere, sylie means plain and simple, just a simple country sling.
Similarplain, simple, rustic, humble
Oppositefancy
Note
11
adjectiveobsolete
From the countryside, with no schooling or book learning.
From Hell (of which the silly people of the Country think the top of this hill to be the mouth).
1687, Jean de Thévenot, The Travels of Monsieur de Thevenot into the LevantHere, silly means simple and unschooled, country people without book learning.
Note
12
adjectiveobsolete
Of low rank, poor and not important in society.
The silly herdman all astonnied standes.
a. 1547, the Earl of Surrey translating Publius Virgilius Maro, Certain Bokes of Virgiles AeneisHere, silly means lowly or humble, a herdsman of low rank.
So luvaris lair no leid suld lak, A lord to lufe a silly lass.
1568, Alexander Scott, PoemsHere, silly means humble and of low social rank.
Note
13
adjectiveobsoleteScotland
In old Scottish use: holy or blessed, or good and religious.
The sylyman lay and herde, / And hys wyf answerd.
a. 1450, Seven Sages, line 1361Here, sylyman means the good, devout man.
Note
14
adjectivedialectalScotland
Having a mind that has not developed in the usual way.
Davie's no just like other folk... but he's no sae silly as folk tak him for.
1814, Waverley, Walter Scott
15
adjectivedialectalNorthern EnglandScotland
In old or regional use: weak, innocent, and helpless, so that people feel sorry for them, like a lamb.
There remained fresh Examples of their Barbarism against weak Sea-men, and silly Fisher-men.
1665, Hugo Grotius, De Rebus BelgicisHere, silly means helpless and innocent, so poor, defenseless fishermen.
16
adjectivedialectalNorthern EnglandScotland
In regional use: weak and frail, either in health or, of things, easily broken.
That'll never grow. It's ower silly.
1946, Scottish National Dictionary, published 1971Here, silly means weak or frail, too feeble to grow.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of silly apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old English sǣliġ, meaning "lucky" or "fortunate." Over time the meaning changed from "lucky" to "innocent," then "naive," and finally "foolish."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Silly derives from Old English sǣliġ, meaning lucky or fortunate. en.wiktionary.org
Its meaning developed from lucky through innocent and naive to foolish. en.wiktionary.org