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

Think of the bridge: “And when I touch you, I feel happy inside …” Remember how it quiets down there?
Was The Beatles’ Music Really That Unique? Yeah, It Totally Was.|Michael Tomasky|February 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yet half an hour after Kit starts the rounds everything quiets down.
The Adventures of Kathlyn|Harold MacGrath
It quiets storms, cures pestilence, prevents temptations against the Faith, puts out flames.
Robert Annys: Poor Priest|Annie Nathan Meyer
I intend to stay here until the world quiets down, and life is pleasant once more.
The Enemies of Women|Vicente Blasco Ibez

Gradually the court-room quiets and a spirit of expectancy prevails.
The Man in Court|Frederic DeWitt Wells
It contains teaffein, which stimulates the heart but quiets the nerves.
Class of '29|Orrie Lashin and Milo Hastings

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