quiet

1 of 4

noun

qui·​et ˈkwī-ət How to pronounce quiet (audio)
: the quality or state of being quiet (see quiet entry 2) : tranquility

quiet

2 of 4

adjective

1
a
: free from noise or uproar : still
a quiet room
The lights went down and the theater became quiet.
b
: making or involving no noise or very little noise
a quiet motor
a quiet conversation
Everyone suddenly went quiet.
Please be quiet—people are trying to study.
c
: tending to speak very little : not loquacious
He was a quiet, reserved person.
d
: unobtrusive, conservative
quiet clothes/colors
2
a
: marked by little or no motion or activity : calm
a quiet sea
At such an early hour, the streets seemed strangely quiet.
b
: gentle, easygoing
a quiet temperament
c
: not disturbed by noise or activity
quiet reading
a moment of quiet contemplation
: enjoyed in peace and relaxation
a quiet cup of tea
3
: secluded
a quiet nook
4
: carried out secretly or discreetly
quiet diplomacy
: not made known openly or publicly
worked with quiet determination
She had a quiet confidence about her.
He took a quiet satisfaction in a job well done.
quietly adverb
quietness noun

quiet

3 of 4

adverb

: in a quiet manner
an engine that runs quiet

quiet

4 of 4

verb

quieted; quieting; quiets

transitive verb

1
: to cause to be quiet : calm
2
: to make secure by freeing from dispute or question
quiet title to a property

intransitive verb

: to become quiet
usually used with down
Phrases
on the quiet
: in a secretive manner : in secret

Examples of quiet in a Sentence

Noun My hostess told me she had some records I might like to hear and she called for quiet in the room. People sat down on the floor in groups, sharing bottles of wine and slivovitz. The host put the record on a windup record player and Lester Young's saxophone yowled out of the silence. Maya Angelou, Gourmet, November 2002
When my parents needed peace and quiet, they didn't put me in front of the television to watch a "Baby Einstein" video; they plopped me in a chair to watch my mom do housework or cook. Robb Moretti, Newsweek, 5 Aug. 2002
the quiet of a wooded trail
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
But, when traveling at higher speeds, the quiet of an electric car goes away. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Jan. 2025 In the quiet of the nearby waiting room, Jerry and Lisa prayed and worried. Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 19 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Finns are quiet and reserved compared to, well, Americans. Christopher Elliott, USA TODAY, 10 Jan. 2025 The work reverberates with quiet yet powerful symbolism paying tribute to Gonzalez’s deep roots in San Antonio and her significant contributions to the community. Chadd Scott, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Adverb
Cue the quiet-quitting backlash: The concept has sparked a flood of vehement commentary from business leaders, career coaches and other professionals lamenting what the shift away from hustle culture means for Americans’ commitment to their jobs, while some young professionals are praising it. Kathryn Dill and Angela Yang, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2022 Some workers just quiet-quit, doing the minimum to hold on to their jobs. Christopher Dinsmore, Baltimore Sun, 8 Dec. 2022
Verb
In one version, the parents of the child do not do anything to try to quiet their child down; in the other version, the parents try their hardest to keep the child quiet. Christian B. Miller, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025 The win-or-else stakes on Sunday should quiet any personal animosity, in theory. Ben Standig, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for quiet 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English quiet, quiete, borrowed from Anglo-French quiete, borrowed from Latin quiēt-, quiēs "repose, sleep, rest, peaceful conditions," going back to Indo-European *kwi̯eh1-ti-, noun derivative of a verbal base *kwi̯eh1- "have a rest," whence Avestan š́iiā- "be glad," Old Church Slavic počijǫ, počiti "to have a rest" (causative pokojǫ, pokoiti "to calm, quiet"), Armenian hangeaw "has rested," and (from deverbal *kwi̯eh1-to-) Avestan š́iiāta- "peaceful, happy," Old Persian šiyāta-, Latin quiētus "at rest, quiet entry 2"

Adjective

Middle English quyet, quyete, quiete, borrowed from Anglo-French & Middle French quiete, borrowed from Latin quiētus "at rest, inactive, peaceful" — more at quiet entry 1

Adverb

derivative of quiet entry 2

Verb

Middle English quieten, borrowed from Late Latin quiētāre "to become quiet, make quiet, put to rest," derivative of Latin quiētus "at rest, quiet entry 2"

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Adverb

1568, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of quiet was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near quiet

Cite this Entry

“Quiet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quiet. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

quiet

1 of 3 noun
qui·​et ˈkwī-ət How to pronounce quiet (audio)
: the quality or state of being quiet

quiet

2 of 3 adjective
1
a
: marked by little or no motion, activity, or noise : calm
b
: gentle entry 1 sense 2b, easygoing
a quiet disposition
c
: not disturbed : peaceful
enjoyed a quiet dinner for two
2
: not colorful or showy : conservative
quiet clothes
3
: hidden from public view
a quiet corner
quiet adverb
quietly adverb
quietness noun

quiet

3 of 3 verb
: to make or become quiet
quieter noun

Legal Definition

quiet

1 of 2 adjective
qui·​et
: free from disturbance, interference, or dispute (as from an adverse claim)
quiet enjoyment of property

quiet

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to establish or make (title) secure by means of an action that produces a final determination of the respective rights of parties who are in dispute over property compare cloud on title

More from Merriam-Webster on quiet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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