Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Making or characterized by little or no noise.
  • adjective Free of turmoil and agitation; calm.
  • adjective Providing or allowing relaxation; restful; soothing.
  • adjective Not showy or bright; subdued.
  • adjective Restrained, as in style; understated.
  • adjective Out of public scrutiny; known or discussed by few.
  • noun The quality or condition of being quiet.
  • intransitive verb To cause to become quiet.
  • intransitive verb To make (a title) secure by freeing from uncertainties or adverse claims as to the ownership.
  • intransitive verb To become quiet.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Rest; repose; stillness.
  • noun An undisturbed condition; tranquillity; peace; repose.
  • noun An undisturbed state of mind; peace of soul; patience; calmness.
  • noun Synonyms Repose, Tranquillity, etc. See rest.
  • Being in a state of rest; not being in action or motion; not moving or agitated; still: as, remain quiet; the sea was quiet.
  • Left at rest; free from alarm or disturbance; unmolested; tranquil.
  • Peaceable; not turbulent; not giving offense; not exciting controversy, disorder, or trouble.
  • Undisturbed by emotion; calm; patient; contented.
  • Free from noise or sound; silent; still: as, a quiet neighborhood.
  • Free from fuss or bustle; without stiffness or formality.
  • Not glaring or showy; not such as to attract notice; in good taste: as, quiet colors; a quiet dress.
  • = Syn. 1-5. Placid, Serene, etc. (see calm), peaceful, unruffled, undisturbed.
  • Meek, mild.
  • To bring to a state of rest; stop.
  • To make or cause to be quiet; calm; appease; pacify; lull; allay; tranquillize: as, to quiet the soul when it is agitated; to quiet the clamors of a nation; to quiet the disorders of a city.
  • Synonyms To compose, soothe, sober; to still, silence, hush.
  • To become quiet or still; abate: as, the sea quieted.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The quality or state of being quiet, or in repose; as an hour or a time of quiet.
  • noun Freedom from disturbance, noise, or alarm; stillness; tranquillity; peace; security.
  • noun still; peaceful.
  • noun quietly.
  • noun [Obs.] disturbed; restless.
  • transitive verb To stop motion in; to still; to reduce to a state of rest, or of silence.
  • transitive verb To calm; to appease; to pacify; to lull; to allay; to tranquillize
  • adjective In a state of rest or calm; without stir, motion, or agitation; still
  • adjective Free from noise or disturbance; hushed; still.
  • adjective Not excited or anxious; calm; peaceful; placid; settled
  • adjective Not giving offense; not exciting disorder or trouble; not turbulent; gentle; mild; meek; contented.
  • adjective Not showy; not such as to attract attention; undemonstrative
  • intransitive verb To become still, silent, or calm; -- often with down.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective With little or no sound; denoting absence of disturbing noise.
  • adjective Having little motion or activity; calm.
  • adjective Not busy, of low quantity.
  • adjective Not talking much or not talking loudly; reserved.
  • verb To become quiet, silent, still, tranquil, calm.
  • verb To cause someone to become quiet.
  • noun The absence of sound; quietness.
  • noun the absence of movement; stillness, tranquility

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the absence of sound

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin quiētus, past participle of quiēscere, to rest; see kweiə- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin quietus, past participle of quiescere ("to keep quiet, rest").

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Examples

  • If one goes from place to place in search of the quiet spot for sleep, he may finally find _quiet itself_ oppressive, or worse yet, may be kept awake by hearing his own circulation, from which escape is out of the question.

    Why Worry? George Lincoln Walton 1897

  • WHEN the French Communists were raising Cain in Europe they doubtless thought their idea was practically new, but thousands of years before they bore the red banner through the streets of Paris the American Indians were living quiet and peaceful communal lives on this continent; when I use the words _quiet_ and _peaceful_, I, of course, mean as regards their own particular commune and not taking into account their attitude toward their neighbors.

    Shelters, Shacks and Shanties Daniel Carter Beard 1895

  • We use the term quiet manner: it should be qualified with the phrase, quiet manner for him.

    The Life and Adventures of Kit Carson, the Nestor of the Rocky Mountains, from Facts Narrated by Himself de Witt C. Peters

  • "How much extra to keep this matter of the title quiet -- as long as I live?"

    A Young Man in a Hurry and Other Short Stories 1899

  • I said in my introductions activity I used the term quiet, which are often used.

    unknown title 2011

  • When we got to the hospital, they took us to what they call the quiet room.

    Miss. mother, 4 children die in home fire 2011

  • When we got to the hospital, they took us to what they call the quiet room.

    Miss. mother, 4 children die in home fire 2011

  • General Petraeus praised what he called the "quiet professionals" of the CIA, saying he had seen their expertise, commitment and courage.

    Obama Announces Cabinet, Afghanistan Changes 2011

  • General Petraeus praised what he called the "quiet professionals" of the CIA, saying he had seen their expertise, commitment and courage.

    Obama Announces Cabinet, Afghanistan Changes 2011

  •  Analyst Brian Katulis says the handling of the matter of Pakistan has been what he terms a quiet success for the Obama administration.

    US Withdrawal from Iraq Looms Over Afghan War 2010

  • Quiet quitting, for example, began as a reference to performing your basic duties and nothing more, but over time came to be interpreted by the managerial class as workers slacking off.

    We’re gonna keep making up words about work Rani Molla 2023

  • That’s made it the quintessential “quiet luxury” or “stealth wealth” brand, allowing rich people — from a tradition of Goldman Sachs executives to Bill Gates — to look nice without broadcasting that they spent several months of your rent on their outfit.

    How Loro Piana Became Silicon Valley’s Favorite Flex Jen Wieczner 2023

Comments

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  • shh.

    February 9, 2008

  • Hunting wabbits?

    February 9, 2008

  • Wordie, today.

    September 13, 2008

  • *twitches*

    September 13, 2008

  • See tag.

    December 31, 2008

  • Love it! Oh sorry... love it.

    December 31, 2008

  • How vainly men themselves amaze

    To win the palm, the oak, or bays,

    And their uncessant labors see

    Crowned from some single herb or tree,

    Whose short and narrow-vergèd shade

    Does prudently their toils upbraid;

    While all the flowers and trees do close

    To weave the garlands of repose.

    Fair Quiet, have I found thee here,

    And Innocence, thy sister dear!

    Mistaken long, I sought you then

    In busy companies of men:

    Your sacred plants, if here below,

    Only among the plants will grow;

    Society is all but rude,

    To this delicious solitude.

    .

    .

    .

    Andrew Marvell, "The Garden"

    September 22, 2009

  • If my 15 comments still make me one of the top citers of the week, it means that Wordie has been pretty quiet this week.

    October 11, 2009

  • Quite quiet.

    October 11, 2009

  • And 40 words is a Wordiest Wordie.

    October 11, 2009

  • Yeah, quiet. It's alway gone through mysterious cycles, but I can't help but wonder if part of it is trepidation about the Wordnik merger.

    Much of which I hope will go away when the redesigned Wordnik launched soon. It's hugely Wordie inspired.

    October 11, 2009

  • Maybe we're hunting wabbits...shh.

    October 12, 2009

  • Oh, HAR! Just saw VO's teeny tiny comment from last year!

    *pipes down*

    October 12, 2009

  • It isn't trepidation on my part John. I've been off the grid for 96 hours and I returned to Wordie to only 3 pages of comments. We need to start up some new puzzles or contests.

    October 12, 2009

  • And seven comments are enough to make this the most commented word!

    October 13, 2009

  • Shhhh!

    October 14, 2009

  • As for me, just lots and lots going on elsewhere. Why does real life always intrude on my Wordie time like this??

    October 15, 2009

  • Sshhhhh!! Wordnik is vewy vewy quiet!

    March 27, 2010

  • So am I at the moment, but I’m still alive and well. *quietly wave*

    March 27, 2010

  • *quietly waving at telofy*

    March 27, 2010

  • Wordnik, today.

    October 14, 2010

  • Wordnik, today.

    May 13, 2011

  • WHAT??

    May 13, 2011

  • Argh! My ears eyes!

    May 13, 2011

  • Oh! Sorry. I couldn't hear you.

    May 13, 2011