quiet

[ kwahy-it ]

/ ˈkwaɪ ɪt /

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See synonyms for: quiet / quieted / quieter / quietest on Thesaurus.com

adjective, qui·et·er, qui·et·est.

making no noise or sound, especially no disturbing sound: quiet neighbors.

free, or comparatively free, from noise: a quiet street.

silent (def. 1): Be quiet!

restrained in speech, manner, etc.; saying little: a quiet person.

free from disturbance or tumult; tranquil; peaceful: a quiet life.

being at rest.

refraining or free from activity, especially busy or vigorous activity: a quiet Sunday afternoon.

making no disturbance or trouble; not turbulent; peaceable: The factions remained quiet for twenty years.

motionless or moving very gently: quiet waters.

free from disturbing thoughts, emotions, etc.; mentally peaceful: a quiet conscience.

said, expressed, done, etc., in a restrained or unobtrusive way: a quiet reproach;a quiet admonition.

not showy or obtrusive; subdued: quiet colors.

not busy or active: The stock market was quiet last week.

verb (used with object)

to make quiet.

to make tranquil or peaceful; pacify: to quiet a crying baby.

to calm mentally, as a person.

to allay (tumult, doubt, fear, etc.).

to silence.

verb (used without object)

to become quiet (often followed by down).

noun

freedom from noise, unwanted sound, etc.: At least there's quiet here.

freedom from disturbance or tumult; tranquility; rest; repose: This little beach is known for its quiet, but today a rowdy group of tourists is having a clambake.

peace; peaceful condition of affairs.

OTHER WORDS FOR quiet

5 calm, serene.

9 unmoving.

14 still, hush, silence.

15, 17 lull, soothe.

20 silence.

21 calm, stillness.

See synonyms for quiet on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR quiet

2 noisy.

5 perturbed.

9 active.

20 noise.

21 disturbance.

See antonyms for quiet on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of quiet

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English adjective quiet(e), quite, from Old French quiet, quiete, and Latin quiētus, past participle of quiescere “to rest, rest in sleep, rest from toil”; Middle English verb quieten, partly derivative of the adjective, partly from Late Latin quiētāre “to calm,” derivative of quiētus; see also coy, quiescent

synonym study for quiet

2. See still¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM quiet

qui·et·er, nounqui·et·ly, adverbqui·et·ness, nounun·qui·et·ed, adjective

un·qui·et·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH quiet

1. quiescent, quiet 2. quiet , quit, quite3. quietness , quietude

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use quiet in a sentence

Getting my work done required isolating myself in the quietest corner of the library.
Mark Twain, Writing Coach and Role Model|Ben Tarnoff|April 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Anyone who has been in emergency rooms knows Christmas is just about always the quietest day of the year.
Why Christmas Is So Deadly|Kent Sepkowitz|December 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Howard Kurtz on why the quietest campaign may be just the ticket for the plain-vanilla front-runner.
Mitt Romney, Boring Genius?|Howard Kurtz|June 27, 2011|DAILY BEAST
They're the nation's quietest killers, known as SEALs because of their delicate work by Sea, Air or Land.
The Navy SEALs Who Saved the Day|Tony Doukopil|May 3, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Their secret killing of Osama bin Laden is another triumph for the nation's quietest killers, writes Tony Dokoupil.
The Navy SEALs Who Saved the Day|Tony Doukopil|May 3, 2011|DAILY BEAST
During the night we never steamed, the Amasis lying up while we enjoyed quiet rest in the quietest of lands.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
Even in her quietest moments there was that about her—a sort of repressed eagerness, a look of seeing things far away.
The Amazing Interlude|Mary Roberts Rinehart
It suffered much, like its neighbours, from wars and revolutions, and is now one of the quietest of the Flemish towns.
Belgium|George W. T. (George William Thomson) Omond
When in masses they are the quietest and most tractable workmen it is possible to have to deal with.
Spanish Life in Town and Country|L. Higgin and Eugne E. Street
Philosophizing thus, he presently sent the Green Imp at her quietest pace in at the home driveway.
Red Pepper Burns|Grace S. Richmond

British Dictionary definitions for quiet

quiet

/ (ˈkwaɪət) /

adjective

characterized by an absence or near absence of noisea quiet street

characterized by an absence of turbulent motion or disturbance; peaceful, calm, or tranquila quiet glade; the sea is quiet tonight

free from activities, distractions, worries, etc; untroubleda quiet life; a quiet day at work

marked by an absence of work, orders, etc; not busythe factory is very quiet at the moment

private; not public; secreta quiet word with someone

free from anger, impatience, or other extreme emotiona quiet disposition

free from pretentiousness or vain display; modest or reservedquiet humour

astronomy (of the sun) exhibiting a very low number of sunspots, solar flares, and other surface phenomena; inactiveCompare active (def. 8)

noun

the state of being silent, peaceful, or untroubled

on the quiet without other people knowing; secretly

verb

a less common word for quieten

Derived forms of quiet

quietness, noun

Word Origin for quiet

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

Other 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

quiet

OTHER WORDS FOR quiet

OPPOSITES FOR quiet

Origin of quiet

synonym study for quiet

OTHER WORDS FROM quiet

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH quiet

Words related to quiet

How to use quiet in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for quiet

Derived forms of quiet

Word Origin for quiet

Other Idioms and Phrases with quiet