keep quiet
Idioms-
Also, keep still.
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Also, . Remain silent; same as hold one's tongue . For example, Please keep quiet about the party . Also see keep one's mouth shut .
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Refrain from moving, stay in the same position; same as hold still . For example, The doctor gave the young boy a toy to keep him quiet while on the examining table , or It's hard for the baby to keep still unless he's sleeping . [Late 1300s]
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.
If only they’d heeded their instinct to keep quiet.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
Some who continue to show up keep quiet about the detentions or deportations of family members because they feel ashamed, Cardona said.
From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026
He’s become close to a father and his usually nonverbal son who can’t keep quiet at shows, asking questions and singing along.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026
After you apologize and express a desire to heal, keep quiet.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 2, 2025
And whenever it was Brightbill’s turn to speak, she’d keep quiet and hang on his every word.
From "The Wild Robot" by Peter Brown
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.
