to be quiet

Examples

• All

• Now, be quiet.

  HIM (2025)

• During the movie, everyone was asked to be quiet so that we could enjoy the film.

• Like, you know, just sit down and be quiet and listen and stop.

• Now, does that mean we have to be quiet all of the time?

  Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

• Okay, then why do I have to be quiet?

  Hell of a Summer (2023)

• Then sit down and be quiet.

  Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

• But she just asked us to be quiet nicely and told everyone to calm down.

  Academic text (2014)

• So Auntie Morgan, just please be quiet because I need to sing.

• Please be quiet!

  CHEST (2022)

• Just be quiet.

  He's Watching (2022)

Synonyms

S

to shut up

vsto be quiet

• Offensive

∞ 4.1

Tell someone to be quiet in a rude or angry way

is the general act of stopping speech without rude command tone

Q

to quiet

vsto be quiet

257 3.2

To make someone or something calm and less noisy

focuses specifically on stopping speech or remaining silent

K

to keep quiet

vsto be quiet

208 2.5

To say nothing or not tell a secret

is the general act of stopping speech or falling silent

S

to silence

vsto be quiet

177 3.5

To stop someone from speaking or making noise

is the general action of stopping sound without using force

H

to hush

vsto be quiet

149 3.4

Make a person or thing quiet so others stop making noise

is the plain action of stopping speech rather than calming noise

Q

to quiet down

vsto be quiet

• Informal

54 2.0

Make people or things less noisy and less active

refers directly to stopping talking or falling silent

K

to keep (someone's) voice down

vsto be quiet

• Informal

44 3.4

Speak quietly so you do not disturb others

centres on stopping speech entirely rather than lowering loudness

P

to pipe down

vsto be quiet

• Informal

31 7.1

To become quiet or tell someone to stop making noise

refers specifically to ending speech or staying silent

H

to hush up

vsto be quiet

• Informal

20 5.0

Make someone stop talking and be quiet

is the simpler act of not speaking, without action to silence others

S

to still

vsto be quiet

18 4.2

To make quiet or calm

focuses on ending spoken words rather than general calming

C

to clam up

vsto be quiet

• Informal

18 6.6

Stop talking suddenly because you are nervous or do not want to say anything

is the plain stopping of speech, not necessarily sudden or nervous

B

to button up

vsto be quiet

• Informal

15 7.1

To stop talking suddenly and not answer questions

is the general falling silent without implied refusal

D

to dummy up

vsto be quiet

• Archaic

4 9.6

Refuse to speak or suddenly stop talking when asked

is the simple act of ceasing speech without refusal nuance

K

to keep mum

vsto be quiet

• Informal

3 7.5

Stay quiet about something private

is the broader action of stopping speech without secrecy focus

Q

to quieten

vsto be quiet

3 4.6

Make someone or something less noisy and calmer

refers mainly to ending speech or keeping silent

C

to close up

vsto be quiet

2 4.8

To stop talking and say nothing

is the general act of silence without sudden or unwilling tone

K

to keep one's mouth shut

vsto be quiet

• Informal

1 5.6

To say nothing to avoid trouble or keep a secret

is the general action of stopping speech rather than secrecy

K

to keep shtum

vsto be quiet

• Slang

1 9.9

To stay silent on purpose to avoid trouble

is the neutral action of stopping speaking without intent motive

B

to belt up

vsto be quiet

• Offensive

1 9.2

To tell someone to stop talking and be quiet

is the neutral idea of not speaking rather than a blunt order

S

to shut one's mouth

vsto be quiet

• Informal

1 4.4

To stop talking to keep a secret or when told to be quiet

describes the general act of no longer speaking

H

to hold one's tongue

vsto be quiet

• Informal

1 5.4

To stay silent to avoid saying something rude

is the simple act of stopping speech without self-control emphasis

B

to button one's lip

vsto be quiet

• Informal

7.2

To keep quiet on purpose and not tell others

is the straightforward act of becoming silent without secrecy aim

S

to shut one's gob

vsto be quiet

• UK

9.9

To tell someone rudely to be quiet

is a neutral description of ending speech without rudeness

Antonyms

T

to talk

∞ 1.0

Speak with someone to share ideas or information

M

to make noise

321 1.3

To make a sound that is loud or easy to hear

How Quiet

to be quiet

445 1.0

to whisper

549 1.0

to speak

∞ 1.0

to shout

690 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology