quiet

Universal Words adjective, noun, verb adjective (quieter, quietest) 1 making very little noise: her quiet voice / footsteps * a quieter, more efficient engine * Could you keep the kids quiet while I'm on the phone? * He went very quiet (= did not say much) so I knew he was upset. * 'Be quiet,' said the teacher. * She crept downstairs (as) quiet as a mouse. 2 without many people or much noise or activity: a quiet house / street / town * They lead a quiet life. * Business is usually quieter at this time of year. * They had a quiet wedding. * The hotel is in a quiet location near the sea. 3 not disturbed; peaceful: to have a quiet drink * I was looking forward to a quiet evening at home. 4 (of a person) tending not to talk very much: She was quiet and shy. 5 (of a feeling or an attitude) definite but not expressed in an obvious way: He had an air of quiet authority. quietly adverb: to speak / move quietly * I spent a few hours quietly relaxing. * He is quietly confident that they can succeed. * a quietly-spoken woman quietness noun [U]: the quietness of the countryside * His quietness worried her. IDIOMS keep quiet about sth