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
Malia Griggs, SELF, 24 Nov. 2023
Members earn exclusive access to a shared closet of designer handbags, jewelry, and diamonds.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Nov. 2023
The primary bedroom, at the rear of the main floor, has an en suite bathroom, a reach-in closet and a deck.
—Hope Hodge Seck, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023
The primary bath sports an indoor/outdoor shower, and there’s plenty of room for a boutique’s worth of Bermuda shorts and bathing suits in the walk-in closet.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2023
More playsets include this Barbie dream closet, which includes more than 35 pieces of clothing or accessories (and the storage to keep them all organized!).
—Rachel Trujillo, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023
These window towels are in the linen closet on the first floor near the large security camera, but are not to be confused with the bath towels, located in the linen closet on the second floor (next to the toilet camera).
—Julia Young, The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2023
Price at time of publish: $150 London Fog Double-Breasted Trench Coat With Belt
Buy on Amazon Buy on Zappos
A trench coat is an essential in every woman’s closet.
—Enjanae' Taylor, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2023
Best of all, three of them are currently on sale right now — which means adding it to your closet in multiple hues just became way more appealing.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023
Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2023
The opera tells the story of Emile Griffith, a five-time world boxing champion, who was closeted during much of his fighting career.
—Devon M. Sayers, CNN, 3 Oct. 2023
Two of the men were closeted 50-somethings, with careers in conservative industries and families in the suburbs.
—Time, 7 July 2023
Other 16-year-olds are under tremendous pressure to closet themselves, to conceal their unorthodox interests, to hide themselves in all their uniqueness.
—Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Parents, 22 June 2023
In its early years, many members were closeted, but by the early 1980s some LGBTQ activists were willing to put a public face on the movement by sharing their stories in interviews, public hearings and lobbying efforts.
—Orit Avishai, The Conversation, 1 June 2023
Taylor, who lost her primary challenge to Kemp, has peddled conspiracy theories that Republican leaders were closet communists and that Democrats were secret pedophiles.
—Barnini Chakraborty, Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2023
Organize your entryway or closet with the Songmics Shoe Rack that's on sale for just $16.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2023
Sidney and Iris' upstairs neighbor is a gay playwright named David (Glenn Fitzgerald) — an interesting creation by Hansberry, who was closeted for much of her life and whose lesbian love letters were suppressed by her ex-husband Robert Nemiroff for almost 50 years after her death.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2023
Kerensa Cadenas, ELLE, 10 Aug. 2023
Blue Note club, offering up his own perspective on the post-closet experience by coming out about coming out.
—Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2022
See More
Noun
If your linen closet could use a refresh, Brooklinen’s luxurious sheets and bath towels are on sale for 25% off.
—Malia Griggs, SELF, 24 Nov. 2023
Members earn exclusive access to a shared closet of designer handbags, jewelry, and diamonds.
—Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Nov. 2023
The primary bedroom, at the rear of the main floor, has an en suite bathroom, a reach-in closet and a deck.
—Hope Hodge Seck, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023
The primary bath sports an indoor/outdoor shower, and there’s plenty of room for a boutique’s worth of Bermuda shorts and bathing suits in the walk-in closet.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2023
More playsets include this Barbie dream closet, which includes more than 35 pieces of clothing or accessories (and the storage to keep them all organized!).
—Rachel Trujillo, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023
These window towels are in the linen closet on the first floor near the large security camera, but are not to be confused with the bath towels, located in the linen closet on the second floor (next to the toilet camera).
—Julia Young, The New Yorker, 22 Nov. 2023
Price at time of publish: $150 London Fog Double-Breasted Trench Coat With Belt
Buy on Amazon Buy on Zappos
A trench coat is an essential in every woman’s closet.
—Enjanae' Taylor, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2023
Best of all, three of them are currently on sale right now — which means adding it to your closet in multiple hues just became way more appealing.
—Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023
Verb
Rogers was closeted for part of his career as a professional athlete and could relate to their intense fear of discovery.
—Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2023
The opera tells the story of Emile Griffith, a five-time world boxing champion, who was closeted during much of his fighting career.
—Devon M. Sayers, CNN, 3 Oct. 2023
Two of the men were closeted 50-somethings, with careers in conservative industries and families in the suburbs.
—Time, 7 July 2023
Other 16-year-olds are under tremendous pressure to closet themselves, to conceal their unorthodox interests, to hide themselves in all their uniqueness.
—Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, Parents, 22 June 2023
In its early years, many members were closeted, but by the early 1980s some LGBTQ activists were willing to put a public face on the movement by sharing their stories in interviews, public hearings and lobbying efforts.
—Orit Avishai, The Conversation, 1 June 2023
Taylor, who lost her primary challenge to Kemp, has peddled conspiracy theories that Republican leaders were closet communists and that Democrats were secret pedophiles.
—Barnini Chakraborty, Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2023
Organize your entryway or closet with the Songmics Shoe Rack that's on sale for just $16.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2023
Sidney and Iris' upstairs neighbor is a gay playwright named David (Glenn Fitzgerald) — an interesting creation by Hansberry, who was closeted for much of her life and whose lesbian love letters were suppressed by her ex-husband Robert Nemiroff for almost 50 years after her death.
—Christian Holub, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2023
Adjective
But, for many, its pieces have quietly become closet MVPs.
—Kerensa Cadenas, ELLE, 10 Aug. 2023
Blue Note club, offering up his own perspective on the post-closet experience by coming out about coming out.
—Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2022
See More
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.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French closett, diminutive of clos enclosure — more at close
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
circa 1637, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of closet was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing closet
Dictionary Entries Near closet
Cite this Entry
“Closet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/closet. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.
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Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on closet
Nglish: Translation of closet for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of closet for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about closet
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