1 qui·et
Pronounced:
/ˈkwajət/
Function:
adjectiveInflected forms:
qui·et·er; qui·et·estMeaning:
[also more qui*et; most qui*et] 1 : making very little noise ▪ a quiet engine ▪ the quiet hum of the refrigerator ▪ He spoke in a very quiet voice. ▪ She was as quiet as a mouse. [=very quiet]
2 a : not talking ▪ Surprisingly, the class was quiet. ▪ “Be quiet!” she scolded. ▪ Can't you be quiet for one minute? [=can't you stop talking?] ▪ She suddenly turned/became/went quiet. [=she suddenly stopped talking] b : tending not to talk very much ▪ He's a very quiet person. ▪ She has a quiet disposition/temperament.
3 : not having much activity or movement ▪ a quiet [=calm] sea ▪ During the morning, business was quiet. ▪ Some days at the store are quieter than others. ▪ a quiet town/village/neighborhood ▪ a quiet stretch of road ▪ He led a quiet life.
4 : not disturbed by noise or people ▪ We enjoyed a quiet [=peaceful] dinner for two. ▪ I was looking forward to a quiet cup of tea. ▪ I decided to do a little quiet reading.
5 : not shown or done in an obvious way ▪ She worked with quiet determination. ▪ There is a quiet confidence about him. ▪ He was filled with quiet desperation/rage. ▪ A quiet revolution was underway.
2 a : not talking ▪ Surprisingly, the class was quiet. ▪ “Be quiet!” she scolded. ▪ Can't you be quiet for one minute? [=can't you stop talking?] ▪ She suddenly turned/became/went quiet. [=she suddenly stopped talking] b : tending not to talk very much ▪ He's a very quiet person. ▪ She has a quiet disposition/temperament.
3 : not having much activity or movement ▪ a quiet [=calm] sea ▪ During the morning, business was quiet. ▪ Some days at the store are quieter than others. ▪ a quiet town/village/neighborhood ▪ a quiet stretch of road ▪ He led a quiet life.
4 : not disturbed by noise or people ▪ We enjoyed a quiet [=peaceful] dinner for two. ▪ I was looking forward to a quiet cup of tea. ▪ I decided to do a little quiet reading.
5 : not shown or done in an obvious way ▪ She worked with quiet determination. ▪ There is a quiet confidence about him. ▪ He was filled with quiet desperation/rage. ▪ A quiet revolution was underway.
keep quiet
1 : to not say anything or make any noise ▪ Please keep quiet during the movie. ▪ He thought about telling the police what he knew, but he decided to keep quiet. [=he decided not to say anything]
2 keep quiet about (something) or keep (something) quiet : to not say anything about (something) ▪ She kept quiet about her plans to change jobs. ▪ She kept her plans quiet.
3 keep (someone) quiet a : to prevent (someone) from speaking or to prevent (someone or something) from making noise ▪ She gave the dog a bone to keep him quiet. b : to prevent (someone) from revealing information about something ▪ They paid money to the witness to keep him quiet. ▪ What'll it take to keep you quiet?
2 keep quiet about (something) or keep (something) quiet : to not say anything about (something) ▪ She kept quiet about her plans to change jobs. ▪ She kept her plans quiet.
3 keep (someone) quiet a : to prevent (someone) from speaking or to prevent (someone or something) from making noise ▪ She gave the dog a bone to keep him quiet. b : to prevent (someone) from revealing information about something ▪ They paid money to the witness to keep him quiet. ▪ What'll it take to keep you quiet?
—qui·et·ly adverb [more qui*et*ly; most qui*et*ly] ▪ He spoke/moved quietly. ▪ She was quietly reading in her room. ▪ He is quietly confident that he will win. ▪ She quietly retired from the sport.
—qui·et·ness noun [noncount] ▪ the quietness of the forest/neighborhood ▪ His quietness bothered her.