quieten
C1Mainly British, informal to neutral. In American English, its use is rare and might sound formal or literary.
Definition
Meaning
To make or become less noisy, less active, or less intense.
To reduce or stop one's own or another's speech, activity, or emotional state; to pacify or calm.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a verb. Can be used both transitively ('He quietened the dog') and intransitively ('The crowd quietened'). It carries a nuance of a gradual or deliberate process of becoming quiet, often used for calming emotions or reducing noise over a period of time.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'quieten' (especially 'quieten down') is common and synonymous with 'quiet' (verb). In American English, 'quiet' is the overwhelmingly standard verb; 'quieten' is seldom used and may be perceived as non-standard or a Britishism.
Connotations
In British English, it can sound slightly more gentle or deliberate than 'quiet'. In American English, if used, it might sound oddly formal or affected.
Frequency
Very high frequency in British English, especially in spoken and informal written contexts. Very low to negligible frequency in American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SVO (transitive): She quietened the baby.SV (intransitive): The wind finally quietened.SVO + ADV (phrasal): Could you quieten down the class?Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Quieten someone's nerves”
- “Quieten down (phrasal verb)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used in UK contexts like 'The announcement quietened market speculation.'
Academic
Rare. More likely in qualitative research descriptions: 'The interviewer quietened the recording to focus on the participant's voice.'
Everyday
Common in British English for calming people, animals, or reducing noise: 'I told the kids to quieten down.'
Technical
Not typically used in technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The teacher asked the class to quieten down.
- A cup of warm milk might quieten the puppy.
- Her reassuring words quietened his anxiety.
American English
- (Rare, literary) She quietened her thoughts with meditation.
- (Rare) The news did little to quieten the critics.
adverb
British English
- (Not used as adverb)
American English
- (Not used as adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard as adjective; 'quiet' is used)
American English
- (Not used as adjective)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby quietened after his feed.
- Please quieten down, children!
- The manager quietened the angry customer with a full refund.
- The noise from the street gradually quietened in the evening.
- He took a deep breath to quieten his racing heart before the presentation.
- The initial media frenzy has since quietened considerably.
- The central bank's intervention was intended to quieten volatility in the currency markets.
- Her diplomatic skills were crucial in quietening the tensions between the two departments.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of adding '-EN' to the adjective 'quiet' to make it a verb, like 'soft' to 'soften'. To QUIET-EN is to MAKE quiet.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUIET IS DOWN/LOW (quieten down), QUIET IS CALM WATER (the situation quietened).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from Russian 'утихомирить' only as 'quieten' – 'calm down' or 'settle' is often more natural. In AmE, using 'quieten' is a clear marker of non-native/British influence.
- Do not confuse with 'quite' (совсем, довольно). 'Quieten' and 'quite' are unrelated.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'quieten' in American English where 'quiet' is expected (e.g., 'He tried to quieten the room' sounds odd to AmE ears).
- Misspelling as 'quietten' or 'quieton'.
- Using it in a stative sense incorrectly (e.g., 'The library is very quieten' – should be 'quiet').
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the verb 'quieten' most commonly used and considered standard?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a standard verb in British English, though it is much less common in American English, where 'quiet' (as a verb) is preferred.
In British English, they are largely synonymous, especially in the phrasal form 'quieten down'. 'Quieten' can sound slightly more gradual or deliberate. In American English, 'quiet' is the only standard choice.
Yes, it can be used for noises, fears, emotions, markets, etc. (e.g., 'to quieten doubts', 'the storm quietened').
The regular past tense and past participle is 'quietened' (e.g., 'He quietened the dog', 'The room had quietened').