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.
Quietly, consistently, he advocated for me behind closed doors, recommending me for opportunities I didn’t know I was even in the running for and helping me navigate the unwritten rules of an elite academic institution.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026
Quietly, everyone from Muncy to Will Smith to Gavin Lux to Michael Kopech were fighting through their own physical limitations.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2025
Quietly, he sent it through the Wagner Group, a nice little cut out, get it there.
From Salon • Mar. 13, 2024
Quietly, in the distance, I began to hear a chorus of small bells.
From New York Times • Jun. 23, 2023
Quietly, asking no questions, we fall into formation, too tired and shell-shocked to do anything but obey.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
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.
