quietly
Britishadverb
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in a quiet manner
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between you and me; confidentially
Explanation
Doing anything quietly means doing it while making very little noise. When you sneak down to the kitchen for that last piece of pie, you should tiptoe quietly past the rooms of your sleeping siblings. If the librarian frowns at you, puts a finger to his lips, and says "Shhhh!", it means he would like you to speak more quietly while you're in the library. Use this adverb for anything you do in a soft, hushed, or faint way. Whisper quietly when you don't want to be overheard, and chew your food quietly unless you really want to irritate your brother.
Vocabulary lists containing quietly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He was quietly transferred into the custody of the U.S.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
While Mr. Klepach will doubtless accept his resignation quietly, he has spread his bold message to those who matter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Stokes was a hands-on skipper, always chatting and encouraging, but Root quietly observed.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
The 1.8-acre estate, which spans two adjacent parcels in the luxurious waterfront community, went into contract just one week after the agent began quietly marketing it.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026
Side by side, and walking as quietly as tomcats on the prowl, we moved on into monkey country.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
