closet

noun clos·et \ ˈklä-zət , ˈklȯ- \

|Updated on: 2 Aug 2018

Examples: closet in a Sentence

Definition of closet

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 : water closet

5 : a state or condition of secrecy, privacy, or obscurity

came out of the closet

—

closetful

play \-ˌfu̇l\ noun

See closet defined for English-language learners

See closet defined for kids

Examples of closet in a Sentence

The sheets and blankets are in the hall closet.
He has a closet full of new clothes.

Recent Examples of closet from the Web

One of the other items in my closet that is very London-based is my satchel bag.

— jamie lisanti, SI.com, "Fashionable 50," 10 July 2018
Here are 16 fresh takes to button up with everything in your closet from now till October.

— yang-yi goh, GQ, "Meet the Only Button-Down You Can Wear Every Day of the Week," 5 July 2018
Because somewhere in Kansas City there's a 10-year-old with a Lorenzo Cain t-shirt in his closet.

— sam mellinger, kansascity, "Mellinger Minutes: Chiefs' defense, Royals' place, Vick's surprise & the Sam Mellinger I never met," 3 July 2018
The girl returns to her room to hang the dress in her closet and brings out her notebook.

— mark curnutte, Cincinnati.com, "Girl who lost parents to heroin starts over: `I want a family'," 27 June 2018
Tucker doesn't just buy sneakers to keep them on a shelf in his closet and brag about them to his friends.

— matt young, Houston Chronicle, "Rockets' P.J. Tucker estimates he spent $200,000 on sneakers last season," 20 June 2018
On the upper floor, the master bedroom includes a sitting room, huge walk-in closet, and a stunning bathroom with granite counters, double sinks, and a large tub.

— courtney campbell, Country Living, "Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman Slash Nearly $1M Off Price of Nashville Home," 13 June 2018
The suite takes up a full wing of the home, complete with a four-room master closet and his-and-her master baths.

— danielle fox, ELLE Decor, "Shaquille O'Neal Is Selling His Orlando Mansion for $28 Million," 18 May 2018
On the other side of the school, the masonry walls in the janitor’s closet and stairwell will be replaced.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "District 204 finds fix for cracking walls, sloping floors at Fischer Middle School," 8 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'closet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of closet

Middle English, from Anglo-French closett, diminutive of clos enclosure — more at close

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

closet Synonyms

Synonyms

buffet, cabinet, console, cupboard, hutch, locker, press, sideboard;

dresser, pie safe;

armoire, clothespress, wardrobe;

Other Furniture and Woodworking Terms

appoint, credenza, mission, settee

closet

verb

Definition of closet

closeted; closeting; closets

transitive verb

1 : to shut up in or as if in a closet

2 : to take into a closet for a secret interview

See closet defined for English-language learners

Examples of closet in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of closet from the Web

Montour, who grew up in Worcester and was closeted until age 40, now has a large group of friends.

— robert weisman, BostonGlobe.com, "Gay boomers look ahead to an old age colored by uncertainty and the help of friends," 9 June 2018
For Berlanti, who is openly gay himself and grew up closeted until his early 20s, the film is a labor of love.

— rob ledonne, Billboard, "'Love, Simon' Music, From Deep Cuts to Surprise Global Hits," 16 Mar. 2018
Beyond the decision to stay closeted, Play to Win also found that LGBTQ youth participate in sports at a much lower rate than other teens.

— nyssa kruse, courant.com, "LGBTQ Youth Fear Discrimination in Sports, UConn Research Says," 21 June 2018
Trump stayed largely out of sight in the Shangri-La Hotel, where he had been closeted with aides since landing in Singapore on Sunday evening.

— mark landler, BostonGlobe.com, "Trump, Kim Jong Un sign a joint declaration at summit," 11 June 2018
At the time a paradise for American tourists — both straight and gay — the island no doubt offered a bounty of attractions for the young, closeted Harvey.

— john mcmurtrie, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘Harvey Milk: His Lives and Death,’ by Lillian Faderman," 22 May 2018
Though Clemons was gay — and sadly closeted for a long time — he was embraced by Rogers as a true friend for life.

— NBC News, "4 life lessons we learned from Mr. Rogers that are especially relevant today," 22 May 2018
Though his boyfriend at the time was with him at the Games, he was still closeted.

— adam carlson, PEOPLE.com, "See Gus Kenworthy's Steamy Gay Times Photo Shoot as Olympian Talks 'Commitment' vs. 'Monogamy'," 27 Mar. 2018
As St Morris could not have known, writing a year before the movie’s release, Esti is closeted and depressed.

— josephine livingstone, The New Republic, "Circle of Trust," 30 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of closet

1595

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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closet Synonyms

Synonyms

box (in), cage, coop (up), corral, encase, enclose (also inclose), envelop, fence (in), hedge, hem (in), house, immure, include, mew (up), pen, wall (in);

encircle, encompass, enfold, enframe, enlace, frame, ring, surround;

armor, cocoon, encapsulate, encapsule, encyst, ensheathe, ensphere, enwomb;

closet

adjective

Definition of closet

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

See closet defined for English-language learners

Examples of closet in a Sentence

Some people think he's a closet homosexual.

First Known Use of closet

circa 1615

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

CLOSET Defined for English Language Learners

closet

noun

Definition of closet for English Language Learners

: a usually small room that is used for storing things (such as clothing, towels, or dishes)
: a state in which someone will not talk about something or admit something; especially : a state in which someone will not admit being a homosexual