1
a
: an apartment or small room for privacy
b
: a monarch's or official's private chamber
2
: a cabinet or recess for especially china, household utensils, or clothing
3
: a place of retreat or privacy
4
5
: a state or condition of secrecy, privacy, or obscurity
came out of the closet
closeted; closeting; closets
1
: to shut up in or as if in a closet
2
: to take into a closet for a secret interview
1
: closely private
2
: working in or suited to the closet as the place of seclusion or study : theoretical
3
: being so in private
a closet racist
Synonyms
Examples of closet in a Sentence
Noun
The sheets and blankets are in the hall closet.
He has a closet full of new clothes.
Verb
He closeted himself in his apartment for several days.
he closeted himself in his study, vowing not to emerge until he had finished the term paper
Adjective
Some people think he's a closet homosexual.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rebekah Riess, CNN, 4 Sep. 2024
In the three-to-five-year group, napping during the day may continue to be necessary, especially since the preschooler’s growing imagination may lead to more bad dreams or nighttime fears—monsters under the bed, goblins in the closet—which can disrupt sleep.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 4 Sep. 2024
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 28 June 2024
My therapist wondered whether the quake triggered other longstanding issues (being closeted, weighing 430 pounds, struggling to get my journalism career off the ground).
—Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024
Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
By calling Hobbes the only liberal worth reading, Gray implies that liberals are really closet totalitarians—and know it.
—Helena Rosenblatt, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for closet 
Noun
Elin Etienne’s body was discovered in the closet at the North Dade Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Monday morning, North Miami Police Department Maj. Kessler Brooks told CNN.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN, 4 Sep. 2024
In the three-to-five-year group, napping during the day may continue to be necessary, especially since the preschooler’s growing imagination may lead to more bad dreams or nighttime fears—monsters under the bed, goblins in the closet—which can disrupt sleep.
—Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 4 Sep. 2024
Verb
But yeah, there’s a lot more acceptance, and there’s always going to be prejudice against anything different that’s threatening or scary to someone who’s probably closeted themselves.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 28 June 2024
My therapist wondered whether the quake triggered other longstanding issues (being closeted, weighing 430 pounds, struggling to get my journalism career off the ground).
—Shelby Grad, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2024
Adjective
Whether paired with heels, sneakers, or both (like Gaines), wide-leg jeans are the closet staple your wardrobe may be missing this spring.
—Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
By calling Hobbes the only liberal worth reading, Gray implies that liberals are really closet totalitarians—and know it.
—Helena Rosenblatt, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for closet
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'closet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near closet
Cite this Entry
“Closet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/closet. Accessed 8 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
closet
1 of 2 noun
clos·et
ˈkläz-ət 
1
: a small private room
2
: a cabinet or small room for china, household utensils, or clothing
closet
2 of 2 verb1
: to shut up in or as if in a closet
2
: to take into a private room for an interview
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