1To become quiet; for noise, chatter, or activity to die down so a place settles into stillness. Usually written 静まる for this sense. Intransitive; the transitive counterpart is 静める.
先生が入ってくると、教室が一瞬で静まった。
The moment the teacher walked in, the classroom went quiet.
真夜中になり、町はすっかり静まり返った。
By midnight, the town had fallen completely silent.
観客のざわめきが静まるのを待って、演奏が始まった。
The performance began once the murmuring of the audience had quieted down.
嵐の前のように、あたりが不気味に静まっている。
The surroundings have grown eerily quiet, like the calm before a storm.
2To calm down, subside, or abate — for heightened emotions, pain, a storm, or unrest to lose force and settle. Often written 鎮まる for this sense. The transitive counterpart is 鎮める.
薬が効いて、痛みがようやく鎮まった。
The medicine took effect and the pain finally subsided.
深呼吸をすると、高ぶった気持ちが少しずつ鎮まってきた。
As I breathed deeply, my agitated feelings gradually settled.
暴動は軍が出動してようやく鎮まった。
The riot was finally quelled only after the army was deployed.
噴火の活動が鎮まるまで、住民の避難が続いた。
Residents remained evacuated until the volcanic activity subsided.