Synonyms

quieten

American

[kwahy-i-tn] / ˈkwaɪ ɪ tn /

verb (used without object)

to become quiet (often followed bydown ).

verb (used with object)

to make quiet.

quieten British

/ ˈkwaɪətən /

verb

(often foll by down) to make or become calm, silent, etc; pacify or become peaceful
(tr) to allay (fear, doubts, etc)

"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

Other Word Forms

quietener noun

Etymology

Origin of quieten

First recorded in 1820–30; quiet + -en ¹

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.

“Maybe you shouldn’t be speaking every day. You should just let things quieten down,” Macron said on Thursday.

From Salon • Apr. 2, 2026

News site Mashable said the game could also quieten critics of Nintendo's Switch 2, which has faced accusations of a lack of must-buy exclusives since its launch last year.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 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

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

Desperate to quieten Wolf, Torak pretended to spot some distant prey, by standing very still and staring intently.

From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023