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be quiet


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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
qui•et1 /ˈkwaɪɪt/USA pronunciation   adj., -er, -est, n., v. 
adj. 
  1. making little or no noise or sound:quiet neighbors.
  2. having little or no noise:a quiet street.
  3. silent:[be + ~]Be quiet!
  4. reserved in speech or manner:a quiet, private sort of person.
  5. free from disturbance or excitement:a quiet life in the country.
  6. free from activity:a quiet Sunday afternoon.
  7. still or barely moving:quiet waters.
  8. not readily noticed by others:raised an eyebrow in quiet reproach.
  9. not active:The stock market was quiet last week.

n. [uncountable]
  • the quality or state of being quiet;
    peacefulness.

      • v. 
      1. to (cause to) become quiet: [~ + object]He tried to quiet the howling dogs.[no object* (~ + down)]The dogs quieted (down).
      2. to make tranquil or peaceful:[~ + object]She tried to quiet the jittery children.
      3. to put to rest:[~ + object]Her father quieted her fears.
      qui•et•ly, adv. 
      qui•et•ness, n. [uncountable]See -quie-.

      WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
      qui•et1  (kwī′it),USA pronunciation adj., -er, -est, v. 
      adj. 
      1. making no noise or sound, esp. no disturbing sound:quiet neighbors.
      2. free, or comparatively free, from noise:a quiet street.
      3. silent:Be quiet!
      4. restrained in speech, manner, etc.;
        saying little:a quiet person.
      5. free from disturbance or tumult;
        tranquil;
        peaceful:a quiet life.
      6. being at rest.
      7. refraining or free from activity, esp. busy or vigorous activity:a quiet Sunday afternoon.
      8. making no disturbance or trouble;
        not turbulent;
        peaceable:The factions remained quiet for twenty years.
      9. motionless or moving very gently:quiet waters.
      10. free from disturbing thoughts, emotions, etc.;
        mentally peaceful:a quiet conscience.
      11. said, expressed, done, etc., in a restrained or unobtrusive way:a quiet reproach; a quiet admonition.
      12. not showy or obtrusive;
        subdued:quiet colors.
      13. not busy or active:The stock market was quiet last week.

      v.t. 
      1. to make quiet.
      2. to make tranquil or peaceful;
        pacify:to quiet a crying baby.
      3. to calm mentally, as a person.
      4. to allay (tumult, doubt, fear, etc.).
      5. to silence.

      v.i. 
      1. to become quiet (often fol. by down).
      • Late Latin quiētāre, derivative of quiētus. Compare coy 
      • Latin quiētus, past participle of quiēscere (see quiescent); (verb, verbal) Middle English quieten, partly derivative of the adjective, adjectival, partly
      • Middle French)
      • (adjective, adjectival) Middle English (1350–1400
      qui′et•er, n. 
      qui′et•ly, adv. 
      qui′et•ness, n. 
        • 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See still 1.
        • 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged calm, serene.
        • 9.See corresponding entry in Unabridged unmoving.
        • 14.See corresponding entry in Unabridged still, hush, silence.
        • 15, 17.See corresponding entry in Unabridged lull, soothe.
        • 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged noisy.
        • 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged perturbed.
        • 9.See corresponding entry in Unabridged active.
      qui•et2  (kwī′it),USA pronunciation n. 
      1. freedom from noise, unwanted sound, etc.:At least there's quiet here.
      2. freedom from disturbance or tumult;
        tranquillity;
        rest;
        repose:to live in quiet.
      3. peace;
        peaceful condition of affairs.
      • Latin quiēt- (stem of quiēs) rest, peace; akin to quiēscere (see quiescent)
      • Middle French quiete)
      • Middle English quiet(e) (1300–50
        • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged silence.
        • 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged calm, stillness.
        • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged noise.
        • 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged disturbance.
      Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
      quiet / ˈkwaɪət/
      1. characterized by an absence or near absence of noise
      2. characterized by an absence of turbulent motion or disturbance; peaceful, calm, or tranquil: a quiet glade, the sea is quiet tonight
      3. free from activities, distractions, worries, etc; untroubled: a quiet life, a quiet day at work
      4. marked by an absence of work, orders, etc; not busy: the factory is very quiet at the moment
      5. private; not public; secret: a quiet word with someone
      6. free from anger, impatience, or other extreme emotion
      7. free from pretentiousness or vain display; modest or reserved: quiet humour
      8. (of the sun) exhibiting a very low number of sunspots, solar flares, and other surface phenomena; inactive
        Compare active8
      1. the state of being silent, peaceful, or untroubled
      2. on the quiet ⇒ without other people knowing; secretly
      1. a less common word for quieten
      Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin quiētus, past participle of quiēscere to rest, from quiēs repose, restˈquietness
      'be quiet' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
      Hesychast - be - cackle - pipe - quiet - rest - shush - silence - silent - sock - soft - tacet - whisht

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