Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

quieten

American  
[kwahy-i-tn] / ˈkwaɪ ɪ tn /

verb (used without object)

  • quietens,
    present (3rd person singular)
  • quietened,
    past participle,  past
  • quietening
    present participle
  1. to become quiet (often followed bydown ).


verb (used with object)

  • quietens,
    present (3rd person singular)
  • quietened,
    past participle,  past
  • quietening
    present participle
  1. to make quiet.

quieten British  
/ ˈkwaɪətən /

verb

  1. (often foll by down) to make or become calm, silent, etc; pacify or become peaceful

  2. (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

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of quieten

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

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

He said the team owed under-pressure boss Gregor Townsend a performance to quieten the noise around his future.

From BBC Feb. 27, 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

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

“Actually, when I get the time, when my mind quietens a bit, that is what I have decided to do.”

From The Guardian Aug. 31, 2019

‘Right, settle down,’ Miss Forshaw says, and the class quietens.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

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

The manner in which he quietened the pro-Wawrinka crowd in an efficient victory stood him in good stead for facing Humbert.

From BBC May 29, 2025

Fearnley's dominance quietened the home fans at a packed John Cain Arena which has boisterously backed Kyrgios during some memorable moments in his Australian Open career.

From BBC Jan. 13, 2025

“It’s a girl. She very seldom cries,” she said, handing the baby to me, and as if to earn the compliment it immediately quietened down.

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

Yet Kopatchinskaja produced a propulsion toward a quietening peace so overwhelming, it seemed inevitable.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 12, 2018

The lead trio have now breached the 1:45 mark over the rest of the peloton as the field looks set and the early attacks quietening down.

From The Guardian Jul. 8, 2018

Julius heard her voice, clear and shrill above the quietening crowd.

From "Tiger, Tiger" by Lynne Reid Banks

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training