Vocabulary
Serenity meaning: a state of calm and peace
The station is crowded and loud. Then you step into a small garden where the air is still and nobody is rushing. The feeling there is serenity.
Use serenity for a calm, peaceful state or atmosphere, and distinguish it from simple quietness.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
serenity /səˈren.ə.ti/
The short answer
Serenity means a state of calm and peace, free from worry, noise, or excitement.
The lake was surrounded by an early-morning serenity.
Why it works: The phrase describes the calm, peaceful atmosphere around the lake.
3 more examples
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After the meeting, Noor walked beside the canal to regain a sense of serenity.
The walk gives Noor a settled, peaceful feeling after a demanding time.
Not this:After the meeting, Noor walked beside the canal to regain
her energy. What changes: Energy means physical or mental strength. Serenity names the calm feeling she is seeking. -
The gallery's empty side room offered a moment of serenity during the busy festival.
The room feels peaceful in contrast with the crowded festival outside.
Not this:The gallery's empty side room offered
a moment of silenceduring the busy festival. What changes: Silence refers to the absence of sound. Serenity includes a wider feeling of calm and peace. -
Despite the delayed flight, his serenity reassured the younger travellers.
He remains calm, and that calm manner helps the other travellers feel less worried.
Not this:Despite the delayed flight,
his patiencereassured the younger travellers. What changes: Patience is the ability to wait without becoming annoyed. Serenity describes a calm, peaceful state.
Read the full guide
Serenity is more literary and reflective than calm. Use it when you want to name a settled feeling or atmosphere, rather than merely say that a place has little noise.
Name a calm, peaceful state
Serenity is the calm you feel when tension has eased. It can be personal, as in serenity during a difficult conversation, or part of a setting, as in the serenity of a garden at dawn.
She answered the question with surprising serenity.
Use common noun patterns
English speakers often use serenity after a sense of, with, or in. You may also say that a quiet place brings serenity or that someone finds serenity after a difficult day. These patterns treat it as a quality, not a countable object.
The slow walk home brought a sense of serenity.
Separate serenity from silence
A silent room has no sound, but it may still feel tense or uncomfortable. A serene room feels calm and peaceful. Silence can help create serenity, yet the two words do not mean the same thing.
Silence describes sound. Serenity describes the peaceful quality of a person, place, or moment.
Use serene for the adjective
Use serenity as the noun and serene as the adjective. A photographer may describe a serene view; a friend may have a serene expression. The adjective usually comes before the noun or after be.
The mountain path looked serene after the rain.
Choose the word for the situation
A library is quiet, but the people inside are worried about an exam. Does serenity describe the atmosphere?
Probably not. The library is silent or quiet, but serenity suggests that the people or place also feel calm and peaceful.
Before you go
Remember this
Use serenity for calm peace in a person, place, or moment. It is usually an uncountable noun in phrases such as a sense of serenity or with serenity. Choose silence when you mean only that there is no sound.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Serenity meaning: a state of calm and peace"
What does serenity mean?
Serenity means a state of calm and peace. It can describe how a person feels, the way someone behaves, or the atmosphere of a place.
After the meeting, Noor walked beside the canal to regain a sense of serenity.
Is serenity the same as silence?
No. Silence means that there is little or no sound. Serenity includes a peaceful, settled feeling, so a silent place can still fail to feel serene.
After the meeting, Noor walked beside the canal to regain her energy.
Is serenity countable or uncountable?
Serenity is usually uncountable. Say a sense of serenity, with serenity, or find serenity. Do not normally use a serenity for one calm event.
The gallery's empty side room offered a moment of serenity during the busy festival.
What is the adjective form of serenity?
The adjective is serene. Use it for a calm, peaceful person, expression, place, or view, as in a serene harbour or a serene response.
The gallery's empty side room offered a moment of silence during the busy festival.
How do you pronounce serenity?
Say suh-REN-i-tee: /səˈren.ə.ti/. The strongest stress is on the second syllable, REN.
Despite the delayed flight, his serenity reassured the younger travellers.
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