quiet
A1Neutral (used across all registers from formal to informal)
Definition
Meaning
Making little or no noise; free from disturbance or activity.
Describes a state of calm, peace, or low intensity; can refer to a person's reserved nature, a subdued colour, or a period of inactivity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adjective, but also functions as a noun (e.g., 'the quiet of the night'), verb (to quiet/quieten), and adverb (informal, e.g., 'sit quiet'). The adjective can describe sounds, places, people, and situations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The verb form 'quieten' (to become/make quiet) is chiefly British; American English prefers 'quiet' as a verb. The phrase 'keep quiet' is universal, but 'be quiet' is more common as a direct command in the US.
Connotations
Similar in both. Can be positive (peaceful, restful) or negative (boring, uneventful). Describing a person as 'quiet' is generally neutral.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties. The noun use ('enjoy the quiet') is slightly more frequent in American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
It is quiet in here.She kept quiet about the incident.The room fell quiet.Can you quiet the children?He's a quiet man.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Peace and quiet”
- “Keep quiet (about something)”
- “As quiet as a mouse”
- “On the quiet (secretly)”
- “A quiet word (a private conversation)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"We need a period of quiet consolidation after the merger." (low activity)
Academic
"The study was conducted in a quiet, controlled environment." (free from disturbance)
Everyday
"Could you be quiet? I'm trying to concentrate." (make less noise)
Technical
"The device operates at a remarkably quiet 20 decibels." (low acoustic output)
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The teacher tried to quieten the class.
- The storm quietened by morning.
American English
- She quieted the barking dog.
- The rumours finally quieted down.
adverb
British English
- Sit quiet while I'm on the phone. (informal)
- The engine runs quiet even at high speed. (informal)
American English
- Just lie quiet and rest. (informal)
- Can you play quiet? (informal, child-directed)
adjective
British English
- Please find a quiet corner to read.
- The hotel is in a quiet part of town.
American English
- The library was quiet and empty.
- He's a quiet guy who keeps to himself.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby is sleeping, so please be quiet.
- My street is very quiet at night.
- She has a quiet voice.
- After the guests left, the house was strangely quiet.
- He's the quiet type, but very kind.
- Let's have a quiet dinner at home.
- The government managed to quiet the growing dissent among voters.
- A period of quiet reflection is often necessary.
- The market has been unusually quiet this quarter.
- She possessed a quiet confidence that commanded respect.
- The ceasefire brought a fragile quiet to the region.
- His quiet diplomacy behind the scenes was ultimately successful.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'QUIET' needing 'QUI' to be complete, just like you need quiet to complete your homework. Or, remember the spelling: 'I E' in the middle - "I Enjoy" quiet.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUIET IS DOWN/LOW (quiet voice, quiet period), QUIET IS SMALL (quiet person, quiet colour), QUIET IS CLEAN (quiet engine, quiet operation).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing 'quiet' (тихий, спокойный) with 'quite' (довольно, вполне).
- The phrase 'keep quiet' means молчать/не рассказывать, not just быть тихим.
- Russian 'тихий' can mean 'slow' (тихий ход), but English 'quiet' does not.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect spelling: 'quite' instead of 'quiet'.
- Using 'quiet' as an adverb in formal writing (e.g., 'He spoke quiet' instead of 'He spoke quietly').
- Overusing 'very quiet'; consider 'hushed', 'subdued', or 'serene'.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'quiet' as a verb?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Quiet' implies a low level of sound or activity, while 'silent' means a complete absence of sound. A library is quiet, but a paused video is silent.
Yes, it is grammatically correct but can sound awkward due to the similar sounds. It means 'fairly quiet' or 'moderately quiet'. In practice, speakers often use 'very quiet' or 'rather quiet' instead.
Yes, in a metaphorical sense. A 'quiet colour' is one that is soft, subdued, and not bright or loud, such as pastel shades or muted tones.
It is a British English idiom meaning 'secretly' or 'discreetly'. For example: 'He made the deal on the quiet to avoid alerting his competitors.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Basic Adjectives
A1 · 46 words · Fundamental describing words used every day.