quiet Hear it!

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quiet definition

quiet (kwī′ət)

adjective

  1. still; calm; motionless
    1. not noisy; hushed a quiet motor
    2. not speaking; silent
  3. not agitated, as in motion; gentle a quiet sea
  4. not easily excited or disturbed a quiet disposition
  5. not ostentatious or pretentious quiet furnishings
  6. not forward; unobtrusive a quiet manner
  7. secluded a quiet den
  8. peaceful and relaxing a quiet evening at home
  9. Commerce not busy a quiet day on the stock exchange

Etymology: ME quiete < OFr < L quietus, pp. of quiescere, to become quiet < quies (gen. quietis), rest < IE base *kweye-, to rest > while

noun

  1. a quiet state or condition; calmness, stillness, inactivity, freedom from noise, etc.
  2. a quiet or peaceful quality; freedom from turmoil or agitation

transitive verb

  1. to make quiet; calm or pacify, bring to rest, etc.
  2. to allay (fear, doubt, etc.)
  3. Law to make (a title) unassailable by freeing the fact of ownership from interference, disturbance, or question

intransitive verb

to become quiet: usually with down

adverb

in a quiet manner

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms quiet idiom

quiet Synonyms

quiet

modif.

  1. Calm

    peaceful, tranquil, untroubled, retired; see calm 1, 2, withdrawn.

  2. Silent

    hushed, muffled, noiseless, still, stilled, mute, muted, low, soft, inaudible, soundless, dumb, quieted, speechless, unspeaking, mum, quiescent, taciturn, reserved, reticent, unuttered, unexpressed, close-mouthed, close, tight-lipped, uncommunicative, secretive.

  3. Motionless

    unruffled, still, placid, level; see calm 2, smooth 1.

  4. Unostentatious

    subdued, unobtrusive, unpretentious, understated; see modest 2.


quiet

n.

  1. Rest

    calm, tranquillity, relaxation; see peace 2, rest 1.

  2. Silence

    hush, stillness, speechlessness; see silence 1.


quiet

v.

  1. To make calm

    calm, cool, relax, compose, tranquilize, soothe, comfort, satisfy, pacify, mollify, placate, assuage, console, subdue, reconcile, gratify, calm down, soften, moderate, smooth, ameliorate, allay, quell, becalm, lull, appease, restrain, palliate, sober, slacken; see also comfort, ease 1, 2.

    Antonyms excite*, irritate*, agitate. *

  2. To make silent

    hush, still, deaden, silence, soften, mute, tone down, lower the sound level, muffle, stifle, smother, gag, muzzle, stop, check, restrain, suppress, break in, cut short, preclude, confute, repress, refute, confound, answer, quell, insulate, dampen, shush, shut up*, stop the mouth*, floor*, put the lid on*, button up*, choke off*, put the kibosh on*, put the stopper on*, squelch*. *

    Antonyms sound*, ring*, cause to sound.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

quiet Usage Examples

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • keep: Babies and toddlers are often cared for by old people who keep the tots quiet by stuffing their mouths with water-soaked bread and rags.

Modifying Another Word

  • fairly: Much to my surprise, we were in for a fairly quiet night.

Preposition: as

  • mouse: They've been quiet as dead mice ever since.

Modifies a noun

  • lane: LOCATION A quiet lane leading directly to the waterfront which is within a few short steps.

Used with adjective complement

  • keep: No wonder they are keeping quiet about the figures.
quiet usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

quiet quotes

Bien choisir son moment et se taire, serait-ce le seul moyen d'avoir e"  tre et habitat? To carefully choose one'smoment and keep quiet, isthis the only way one can be and live?

-Beckett, Samuel

Study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

-Bible (NewTestament)

Noble men in the quiet of morning hear Indians singing the continent's violent requiem.

-Dunbar,William

quiet quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"quiet." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/quiet>

APA Style

quiet. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/quiet

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