closet
Americannoun
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a small room, enclosed recess, or cabinet for storing clothing, food, utensils, etc.
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a small private room, especially one used for prayer, meditation, etc.
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a state or condition of secrecy or carefully guarded privacy.
Some conservatives remain in the closet except on election day. Gay liberation has encouraged many gay people to come out of the closet.
adjective
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private; secluded.
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suited for use or enjoyment in privacy.
closet reflections; closet prayer.
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engaged in private study or speculation; speculative; unpractical.
a closet thinker with no practical experience.
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being or functioning as such in private; secret.
a closet anarchist.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a small cupboard or recess
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a small private room
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short for water closet
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(modifier) private or secret
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(modifier) suited or appropriate for use in private
closet meditations
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(modifier) based on or devoted to theory; speculative
a closet strategist
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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closetsimple
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closetssimple
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have closetedperfect
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has closetedperfect
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am closetingprogressive
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are closetingprogressive
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is closetingprogressive
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have been closetingperfect progressive
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has been closetingperfect progressive
Past
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closetedsimple
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had closetedperfect
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was closetingprogressive
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were closetingprogressive
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had been closetingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of closet
1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French, Middle French, equivalent to clos close (noun) + -et -et
Vocabulary lists containing closet
List 1
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"The Tragedy of Hamlet," Vocabulary from Act 2
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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.
“It was really common, if somebody came into the office, for us to spend 45 minutes hanging out in the Closet just talking about movies,” he recalls.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2025
After sorting through Machel's shoes and clothes, 2nd Closet organised a two-day pop-up shop, giving people a chance to buy items worn by Machel on stage and in his music videos.
From BBC • Mar. 3, 2025
The fraught relationship with his mother was most starkly laid bare on one of his biggest hits, Cleanin' Out My Closet.
From BBC • Dec. 4, 2024
His exuberance about movies both big and small, foreign and domestic, is evident when you watch YouTube videos of him geeking out in the Criterion Closet or in Paris’ Video Club.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 16, 2024
“He introduced himself as Donovan, so my guess is he changed his name to get off the grid and dubbed the place Carl’s Closet in tribute to his former glory or something.”
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
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.
