quiet

English Online Dictionary. What means quiet‎? What does quiet mean?

English

Etymology

From Middle English quiete, from Old French quiet (adjective) and quiete (noun), from Latin quiētus, past participle of quiēscere (“to keep quiet, rest”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (“rest”). Doublet of coy, quit, and quietus.

Pronunciation

• enPR: kwī'ĭt, IPA^(key): /ˈkwaɪ.ɪt/
• (weak vowel merger) enPR: kwī'ət, IPA^(key): /ˈkwaɪ.ət/
• Rhymes: -aɪət

Adjective

quiet (comparative quieter or more quiet, superlative quietest or most quiet)

1. With little or no sound; free of disturbing noise.

   Synonyms: hushed, muffled; see also Thesaurus:quiet

   Antonyms: loud; see also Thesaurus:noisy
2. Having little motion or activity; calm.

   Synonyms: placid, serene; see also Thesaurus:calm

3. Not busy, of low quantity.

   Synonyms: slow, unbusy; see also Thesaurus:inactive
4. Not talking much or not talking loudly; reserved.

   Synonyms: reticent; see also Thesaurus:taciturn

   Antonyms: garrulous, prolix; see also Thesaurus:talkative

5. Not showy; undemonstrative.

   Synonyms: modest, plain, simple; see also Thesaurus:aloof, Thesaurus:unadorned

6. (software) Requiring little or no interaction.

   Synonyms: silent, unattended

Quotations

• For quotations using this term, see Citations:quiet.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

quiet (third-person singular simple present quiets, present participle quieting, simple past and past participle quieted)

1. (transitive) To cause (someone or something) to become quiet.

   Synonyms: quiet down, quieten
2. (intransitive) To become quiet or calm.

   Synonyms: quiet down, quieten

Translations

Noun

quiet (plural quiets)

1. The absence of sound; quietness.

2. The absence of movement; stillness, tranquility.
3. The absence of disturbance or trouble; peace, security.

Translations

Interjection

quiet

1. Be quiet.

Related terms

Further reading

• “quiet”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “quiet”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “quiet”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “quiet”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Anagrams

• quite

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin quiētus. Compare Old Catalan quet, which was inherited. First attested in 1490.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic, Valencia) [kiˈet]

Adjective

quiet (feminine quieta, masculine plural quiets, feminine plural quietes)

1. calm, stopped
2. quiet

Synonyms

• aturat
• detingut

Related terms

• quedar

Copallén

Noun

quiet

1. water

References

• Willem F. H. Adelaar, The Languages of the Andes

French

Etymology

Inherited from Old French quiete (13th c.), borrowed from Latin quiētus. The masculine quiet is a Middle French backformation. Doublet of inherited coi and the earlier borrowing quitte.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kjɛ/

Adjective

quiet (feminine quiète, masculine plural quiets, feminine plural quiètes)

1. (rare, literary) tranquil, peaceful, placid

   Synonyms: see calme

Usage notes

• Its antonym inquiet is much more common.

Related terms

• quiétude

Further reading

• “quiet”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Occitan

Etymology

From Latin quiētus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈkjet]

Adjective

quiet m (feminine singular quieta, masculine plural quiets, feminine plural quietas)

1. calm, stopped
2. quiet

Synonyms

• suau
• tranquil