English Explanatory Dictionary

quiet

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. With little or no sound; free of disturbing noise.
  2. Having little motion or activity; calm.
  3. Not busy, of low quantity.
  4. Not talking much or not talking loudly; reserved.
  5. Not showy; undemonstrative.
  6. Requiring little or no interaction.
verb
  1. To cause (someone or something) to become quiet.
  2. To become quiet or calm.
noun
  1. The absence of sound; quietness.
  2. The absence of movement; stillness, tranquility.
  3. The absence of disturbance or trouble; peace, security.
intj
  1. Be quiet.

Pronunciation

/ˈkwaɪ̯.ət/ [ˈkʰw̥aɪ̯.ət] en-us-quiet.ogg

Word forms

quiet quieter more quiet quietest most quiet quiets quieting quieted

Etymology

From Middle English quiete, from Old French quiet (adjective) and quiete (noun), from Latin quiētus, past participle of quiēscere (“to keep quiet, rest”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“rest”). Doublet of coy, quit, quite, and quietus. Largely displaced native English still in the sense of "with little or no sound".

Synonyms

faint hushed low muffled quiet quiet as a grave quiet as a mouse quiet as a church mouse soft still stifled tranquil placid serene calm collected composed cool-headed equable equanimous equanimitable even-keeled even-minded even-tempered imperturbable laid-back level-headed mellow pacate pacific peaceable peaceful phlegmatic quiescent relaxed roolie sedate unexcited unfazed unflappable unflustered unperturbable unruffable unruffled untumultuous slow unbusy abeyant at rest cessant dormant dull fallow idle inactive inert languid latent nonactive passive

Antonyms

noisy silent loud blaring blasting booming cacophonous clangorous clamorous clattering deafening dinsome earsplitting obstreperous piercing rackety raucous resounding roisterous rowdy strepitous strident thundering tumultuous uproarious vociferous garrulous prolix chattering chattery chatty effusive gabby gobby logorrheic long-winded loquacious motormouth nattersome nattery outspoken talkative talksome talky verbose voluble wordy yakky yappy

Related words

gentle susurrant susurrous acquiesce acquiet disquiet have a quiet word inquietude keep quiet on the quiet peace and quiet quiesce quiescence quiescent quietage quiet as a mouse quiet coach quiet down quieten quiet enjoyment quietism quietist quiet lung quietly quietness quiet period quietsom quietude requiem so quiet one can hear a pin drop ultraquiet unquiet

Derived words

all quiet on the Western Front be quiet bequiet dead quiet nonquiet overquiet Quaalude quiet as a church mouse quiet as a grave quiet as a snowflake quiet as the grave quiet carriage quiet coyote quiet coyote gesture quiet cracking quieten quiet firing quiet fox quiet fox gesture quietful quiet hands quiet hiring quiet horror quietish quietistic quietless quietlike quiet luxury quietly quiet move quietness quiet quit quiet quitting quiet revolution quiet room quietsome quiet storm quietway quiet zone radioquiet say the quiet part loud say the quiet part out loud so quiet one could hear a pin drop so quiet you can hear a pin drop superquiet
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