on mute

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   Having the microphone turned off so that no sound is transmitted during a call or recording.

   Grammar: Used after be or put: You are on mute. Put yourself on mute.

   Patterns

   • be on mute
   • put someone on mute
   • go on mute

   Sorry, I was on mute for the first part of the meeting.

   Please put yourself on mute when you're not speaking.

   She went on mute to cough, then came back to answer the question.

2. 2phrasefixed phrasefigurative

   Not expressing opinions or feelings; silent or unresponsive.

   Grammar: Used figuratively, often after go or be: He went on mute during the argument.

   Patterns

   • go on mute
   • be on mute

   After the criticism, the manager went on mute and stopped replying to emails.

   He tends to go on mute when he doesn't want to discuss problems.

Common combinations

be on mute

You're on mute; we can't hear you.

put someone on mute

The host put everyone on mute during the presentation.

go on mute

She went on mute to take another call.

take someone off mute

The teacher took the student off mute so she could answer.

Synonyms and how they differ

muted

Muted is an adjective meaning the same, but it is used before a noun or after be: a muted microphone; the microphone is muted.

silenced

Silenced often refers to a phone's sound being turned off completely, not just the microphone.

Opposites

Word family

mute verb

To turn off the sound or microphone.

mute noun

A device that softens or silences sound, or a person who cannot speak.

muted adjective

Having the sound turned off, or (of colors) not bright.

Commonly confused: on mute or on silent?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “on mute”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words