quieten
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
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(often foll by down) to make or become calm, silent, etc; pacify or become peaceful
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(tr) to allay (fear, doubts, etc)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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quietensimple
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quietenssimple
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have quietenedperfect
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has quietenedperfect
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am quieteningprogressive
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are quieteningprogressive
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is quieteningprogressive
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have been quieteningperfect progressive
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has been quieteningperfect progressive
Past
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quietenedsimple
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had quietenedperfect
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was quieteningprogressive
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were quieteningprogressive
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had been quieteningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of quieten
Vocabulary lists containing quieten
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.
See Examples For:
“Maybe you shouldn’t be speaking every day. You should just let things quieten down,” Macron said on Thursday.
From Salon ● Apr. 2, 2026
Martin Zubimendi's long-range drive just before half-time settled the nerves of the home crowd at the Emirates Stadium before Viktor Gyokeres struck twice to quieten his critics.
From Barron's ● Feb. 7, 2026
Kylian Mbappe took full advantage that night but, this time, Pope got a strong hand to Ousmane Dembele's spot-kick to briefly quieten the Parc des Princes.
From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2026
The umpire had to repeatedly call for spectators to quieten down as they tried, unsuccessfully, to will Eala to victory.
From Barron's ● Jan. 19, 2026
She breathed deeply to quieten it, but it would not stay still. had betrayed her, publicly, grossly, and shamelessly.
From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee
Although it can be noisy, it quietens down significantly once the Pyramid stage performers finish for the day.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2025
We also found examples of ads aimed at busy parents, painting fast food as something that saves parents time, quietens children and feeds families.
From Salon ● Jul. 16, 2024
As Hollywood quietens for the holidays, she has been afforded a rare moment to reflect “on a wild and wonderful six months” since “Aftersun” premiered in Critics’ Week at Cannes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2023
This induces a trance-like state in which the conscious mind quietens down, apparently allowing the subconscious to do a little rewiring.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 4, 2018
‘Right, settle down,’ Miss Forshaw says, and the class quietens.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Following the takeover of the club by a US-based consortium, who now face a potentially defining season, the financial argument has quietened somewhat after a supposed £40m spend last season.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Townsend only signed a new contract last September -- up until after the 2027 Rugby World Cup -- but that had not quietened the critics, especially after poor results in last Autumn's Tests.
From Barron's ● Feb. 7, 2026
The anxiety and obligations quietened as the brain was flooded with feel-good chemicals.
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2025
Ted Hill's rampaging run helped gain ground for Barbeary to power over, before De Glanville try further quietened the Dublin crowd after Finn Russell's kick through had caused havoc in the Leinster defence.
From BBC ● Jan. 18, 2025
Ira had fed him and freed him from hunger, the taste was with him still and he would not be quietened.
From "Nectar in a Sieve" by Kamala Markandaya
She described Ruben as "inoffensive" and "a normal bloke", adding that "Jon was definitely the leader, he was in charge" and if the children needed quietening down "he would speak to them like a teacher".
From BBC ● Feb. 7, 2026
Here we are 12 months later, just as MPs may have thought things were quietening down before Parliament's summer break starting next week, and here we go again.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2025
On the circuit, meanwhile, a row about the format of individual events shows no sign of quietening down.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 28, 2020
Yet Kopatchinskaja produced a propulsion toward a quietening peace so overwhelming, it seemed inevitable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2018
Julius heard her voice, clear and shrill above the quietening crowd.
From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks
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.
