quiet
quiet
(kwaɪət )Word forms: comparative quieter , superlative quietest , 3rd person singular present tense quiets , present participle quieting , past tense, past participle quieted
1. adjective
Someone or something that is quiet makes only a small amount of noise.
Tania kept the children reasonably quiet and contented.
A quiet murmur passed through the classroom.
The airlines have invested enormous sums in new, quieter aircraft.
quietly adverb [ADVERB with verb]
'This is goodbye, isn't it?' she said quietly.
He closed the door quietly.
quietness uncountable noun
...the smoothness and quietness of the flight. [+ of]
2. adjective
If a place is quiet, there is very little noise there.
She was received in a small, quiet office.
The street was unnaturally quiet.
quietness uncountable noun
I miss the quietness of the countryside. [+ of]
3. adjective
...a quiet rural backwater.
It is very quiet without him.
While he wanted Los Angeles and partying, she wanted a quiet life.
The city is now relatively quiet but there's palpable anger as people cope with shortages.
quietly adverb [ADVERB with verb]
His most prized time, though, will be spent quietly on his farm.
quietness uncountable noun
I do very much appreciate the quietness and privacy here.
4. uncountable noun
Quiet is silence.
He called for quiet and announced that the next song was in our honor.
Jeremy wants some peace and quiet before his big match.
5. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you are quiet, you are not saying anything.
I told them to be quiet and go to sleep.
I just went quiet, embarrassed, and couldn't answer.
They were both quiet for a while. Then Charlie said: 'I must go.'.
Then a voice called out, 'Quiet, everybody, please!'
quietly adverb [ADVERB with verb]
Amy stood quietly in the doorway watching him.
6. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If you refer, for example, to someone's quiet confidence or quiet despair, you mean that they do not say much about the way they are feeling.
He has a quiet confidence in his ability.
All through his life he has shown a quiet determination to get things done.
quietly adverb [ADVERB adjective]
Nigel Deering, the publisher, is quietly confident about the magazine's chances.
7. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You describe activities as quiet when they happen in secret or in such a way that people do not notice them.
The Swedes had sought his freedom through quiet diplomacy.
Then it was back to the house for a quiet celebration.
Can I have a quiet word with you, son?
quietly adverb [usually ADVERB with verb, oft ADVERB adjective]
I slipped away quietly.
The goal of shifting freight from road to rail has been quietly abandoned.
Lee's body was flown to the U.S., where he was quietly buried in Seattle.
8. adjective
9. graded adjective
They dress in quiet colors so as not to call attention to themselves.
10. verb
11. verb
[mainly US]
Music seemed to quiet her anxiety and loneliness. [VERB noun]
regional note: in BRIT, usually use quieten12.
14.
Phrasal verbs:
