Quiet vs Quite
Published January 25, 2023. Updated January 25, 2023.
Quiet and quite look very similar and sound similar, but they are very different in their meanings. Quite is an adverb and an interjection, whereas quiet can be used either as an adjective, verb, noun, or interjection.
Here are some definitions and examples to help make the use of these words clearer.
Quiet (adjective)
1) Usually used to indicate the presence of very little sound or complete silence, although it can also be used to indicate calmness, stillness, or something done without bringing attention to itself.
Examples:
Please be quiet in the library, so people can focus on their reading.
Do you prefer going out to parties with others or having a quiet night to yourself?
Quiet (verb)
1) When someone or something becomes quiet in the sense of a lack of noise or when someone or something causes someone else or something else to become quiet. Can be used as ‘quiet’ or ‘quiet down’.
Examples:
The teacher quieted the class down before they took their test.
I try to quiet my mind before going on stage to perform.
Quiet (noun)
1) The noun form of quiet as an adjective, e.g., lack of sound, movement, etc.
Examples:
Some soldiers report an eerie sense of quiet before a battle.
Meditation helps some people find peace and quiet in their minds.
Quiet (interjection)
1) Used as a request or command for others in the area to silence themselves.
Examples:
The frustrated mother yelled “quiet!” when her child kept screaming in her ear.
Quiet! I need to get my beauty sleep.
Quite (adverb)
1) Fully, completely, wholly, entirely.
Examples:
I wasn’t quite done with my dinner, but the hurried waiter took it away anyway.
She doesn’t know me quite well enough yet to start a dog walking business.
2) Truly, extremely.
Examples:
He’s quite the gentleman and a good singer, too!
Their basketball team was quite talented.
Quite (interjection)
1) Used to show agreement with something. Used in all English-speaking countries, but most common in the UK.
Examples:
“Don’t you think this is an ugly color for a door?” “Quite.”
“That was the best band I’ve seen perform in a long time!” “Quite!”
Main Points
- Quite and quiet sound a little similar and look very similar, but they have different meanings.
- Quiet can be used as an adjective, verb, noun, or interjection that has something to do with a lack of sound, movement, distraction, etc.
- Quite can be used as an adverb to emphasize verbs and adjectives or as an interjection of agreement.