quiet

[ kwahy-it ]

adjective

, qui·et·er, qui·et·est.

1. making no noise or sound, especially no disturbing sound:

   quiet neighbors.

2. free, or comparatively free, from noise:

   a quiet street.

   Antonyms: noise, noisy

3. silent ( def 1 ):

   Be quiet!

4. restrained in speech, manner, etc.; saying little:

   a quiet person.

5. free from disturbance or tumult; tranquil; peaceful:

   a quiet life.

   Synonyms: serene, calm

   Antonyms: disturbance

6. being at rest.
7. refraining or free from activity, especially busy or vigorous activity:

   a quiet Sunday afternoon.

8. making no disturbance or trouble; not turbulent; peaceable:

   The factions remained quiet for twenty years.

9. motionless or moving very gently:

   quiet waters.

   Synonyms: unmoving

   Antonyms: active

10. free from disturbing thoughts, emotions, etc.; mentally peaceful:

    a quiet conscience.

11. said, expressed, done, etc., in a restrained or unobtrusive way:

    a quiet reproach;

    a quiet admonition.

12. not showy or obtrusive; subdued:

    quiet colors.

13. not busy or active:

    The stock market was quiet last week.

verb (used with object)

1. to make quiet.

   Synonyms: silence, hush, still

2. to make tranquil or peaceful; pacify:

   to quiet a crying baby.

   Synonyms: soothe, lull

3. to calm mentally, as a person.
4. to allay (tumult, doubt, fear, etc.).

   Synonyms: soothe, lull

5. to silence.

verb (used without object)

1. to become quiet (often followed by down ).

noun

1. freedom from noise, unwanted sound, etc.:

   At least there's quiet here.

   Synonyms: silence

2. 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.

   Synonyms: stillness, calm

3. peace; peaceful condition of affairs.

quiet

/ ˈkwaɪət /

adjective

1. characterized by an absence or near absence of noise

   a quiet street

2. characterized by an absence of turbulent motion or disturbance; peaceful, calm, or tranquil

   a quiet glade

   the sea is quiet tonight

3. free from activities, distractions, worries, etc; untroubled

   a quiet life

   a quiet day at work

4. marked by an absence of work, orders, etc; not busy

   the factory is very quiet at the moment

5. private; not public; secret

   a quiet word with someone

6. free from anger, impatience, or other extreme emotion

   a quiet disposition

7. free from pretentiousness or vain display; modest or reserved

   quiet humour

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

noun

1. the state of being silent, peaceful, or untroubled
2. on the quiet
   without other people knowing; secretly

verb

1. a less common word for quieten

Derived Forms

• ˈquietness, noun

Other Words From

• qui·et·er noun
• qui·et·ly adverb
• qui·et·ness noun
• un·qui·et·ed adjective
• un·qui·et·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quiet¹

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; coy, quiescent

Word History and Origins

Origin of quiet¹

C14: from Latin quiētus, past participle of quiēscere to rest, from quiēs repose, rest

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with quiet , also see keep quiet ; peace and quiet .

Synonym Study

See still ¹.

Example Sentences

A quiet ripple grows into a loud roar.

From BBC

In fact the middle of the season, normally the peak, was very quiet.

From BBC

"The city will be a quieter place without it."

From BBC

Politics, with a big majority government, will be much quieter, some said.

From BBC

Mr Evans described Mr San Diego as a likeable, quiet man who told him his work in IT had brought him to Wales.

From BBC

Related Words

• gentle
• mild
• placid
• private
• secluded
• sedate
• serene
• shy
• smooth
• stable
• tranquil