Phrase guide

quiet down

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To become quieter.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, intransitive

Examples

  • As the lights dimmed the general noise quieted down.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To make someone or something become quieter.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, transitive

Examples

  • The teacher did her best to quiet the children down.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To diminish in intensity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, intransitive, transitive

Examples

  • Diplomacy can only begin when the violence quiets down.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

become quiet or quieter

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The audience fell silent when the speaker entered

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: quieten, hush, quiet, quiesce, pipe down

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change intensity

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: هَدَأَ (hadaʔa) — become quieter
  • Catalan: callar — become quieter
  • Ingrian: sammua — become quieter
  • Polish: ucichać — become quieter
  • Polish: ucichnąć — become quieter
  • Polish: uciszać się — become quieter
  • Polish: uciszyć się — become quieter
  • Spanish: callar — become quieter
  • French: taire — make someone or something become quieter
  • Galician: calar — make someone or something become quieter
  • Ingrian: sammuttaa — make someone or something become quieter
  • Polish: uciszać — make someone or something become quieter
  • Polish: uciszyć — make someone or something become quieter
  • Spanish: acallar — make someone or something become quieter
  • Polish: uspokajać się — diminish in intensity
  • Polish: uspokoić się — diminish in intensity