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quiet1

[kwahy-it]
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adjective, qui·et·er, qui·et·est.
  1. making no noise or sound, especially no disturbing sound: quiet neighbors.
  2. free, or comparatively free, from noise: a quiet street.
  3. silent: Be quiet!
  4. restrained in speech, manner, etc.; saying little: a quiet person.
  5. free from disturbance or tumult; tranquil; peaceful: a quiet life.
  6. being at rest.
  7. refraining or free from activity, especially busy or vigorous activity: a quiet Sunday afternoon.
  8. making no disturbance or trouble; not turbulent; peaceable: The factions remained quiet for twenty years.
  9. motionless or moving very gently: quiet waters.
  10. free from disturbing thoughts, emotions, etc.; mentally peaceful: a quiet conscience.
  11. said, expressed, done, etc., in a restrained or unobtrusive way: a quiet reproach; a quiet admonition.
  12. not showy or obtrusive; subdued: quiet colors.
  13. not busy or active: The stock market was quiet last week.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to make quiet.
  2. to make tranquil or peaceful; pacify: to quiet a crying baby.
  3. to calm mentally, as a person.
  4. to allay (tumult, doubt, fear, etc.).
  5. to silence.
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verb (used without object)
  1. to become quiet (often followed by down).
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Origin of quiet1

1350–1400; (adj.) Middle English (< Middle French) < Latin quiētus, past participle of quiēscere (see quiescent); (v.) Middle English quieten, partly derivative of the adj., partly < Late Latin quiētāre, derivative of quiētus. Cf. coy
Related formsqui·et·er, nounqui·et·ly, adverbqui·et·ness, nounun·qui·et·ed, adjectiveun·qui·et·ing, adjective
Can be confusedquiescent quietquiet quit quitequietness quietude

Synonyms

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5. calm, serene. 9. unmoving. 14. still, hush, silence. 15, 17. lull, soothe.

Synonym study

2. See still1.

Antonyms

2. noisy. 5. perturbed. 9. active.

quiet2

[kwahy-it]
noun
  1. freedom from noise, unwanted sound, etc.: At least there's quiet here.
  2. freedom from disturbance or tumult; tranquillity; rest; repose: to live in quiet.
  3. peace; peaceful condition of affairs.
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Origin of quiet2

1300–50; Middle English quiet(e) (< Middle French quiete) < Latin quiēt- (stem of quiēs) rest, peace; akin to quiēscere (see quiescent)

Synonyms

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1. silence. 2. calm, stillness.

Antonyms

1. noise. 2. disturbance.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

reticent, soft, silent, peaceful, muted, secluded, serene, shy, smooth, private, gentle, mild, placid, sedate, stable, tranquil, subdued, sober, modest, unassuming

Examples from the Web for quiet

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • There are quiet and very decent places for those of us that must.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • "If you still love Paralus, I wonder you can be so quiet and cheerful," said Eudora.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • When they do not disturb him with earthly medicines, he is quiet and happy.

    Philothea

    Lydia Maria Child

  • Where shall I find a quiet church where I may say his De profundis in peace?

    The Armourer's Prentices

    Charlotte M. Yonge

  • How restful this quiet and reserve after the colour and line tumult of the Higbee apartment.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for quiet

quiet

adjective
  1. characterized by an absence or near absence of noisea quiet street
  2. characterized by an absence of turbulent motion or disturbance; peaceful, calm, or tranquila quiet glade; the sea is quiet tonight
  3. free from activities, distractions, worries, etc; untroubleda quiet life; a quiet day at work
  4. marked by an absence of work, orders, etc; not busythe factory is very quiet at the moment
  5. private; not public; secreta quiet word with someone
  6. free from anger, impatience, or other extreme emotiona quiet disposition
  7. free from pretentiousness or vain display; modest or reservedquiet humour
  8. astronomy (of the sun) exhibiting a very low number of sunspots, solar flares, and other surface phenomena; inactiveCompare active (def. 8)
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noun
  1. the state of being silent, peaceful, or untroubled
  2. on the quiet without other people knowing; secretly
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verb
  1. a less common word for quieten
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Derived Formsquietness, noun

Word Origin

C14: from Latin quiētus, past participle of quiēscere to rest, from quiēs repose, rest
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for quiet

n.

c.1300, "freedom from disturbance or conflict; calm, stillness," from Old French quiete "rest, repose, tranquility" and directly from Latin quies (genitive quietis) "a lying still, rest, repose, peace," from PIE root *qwi- "rest" (cf. Old Persian shiyati-, Avestan shaiti- "well-being;" Avestan shyata- "happy;" Gothic hveila, Old English hwil "space of time;" see while (n.)). Late 14c. as "inactivity, rest, repose."

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adj.

late 14c., "peaceable, at rest, restful, tranquil," from Old French quiet and directly from Latin quietus "calm, at rest, free from exertion," from quies (genitive quietis) "rest" (see quiet (n.)). As an adverb from 1570s. Related: Quietly; quietness.

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v.

late 14c., "subdue, lessen," from quiet (adj.) and in part from Latin quietare. From mid-15c. as "to make silent, cause to be quiet;" intransitive sense of "become quiet, be silent" is from 1791. Related: Quieted; quieting.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with quiet

quiet

In addition to the idiom beginning with quiet

  • quiet as a mouse

also see:

  • keep quiet
  • peace and quiet
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.