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
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
Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2026
The Kendra Scott Elisa Pendant Necklace is one of those timeless, everyday pieces that works with almost anything in your closet.
—Amanda Eyre Ward, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
In the pilot, Keith was in his blue policeman’s uniform attending David’s father’s memorial service without permission from David, who was deeply closeted.
—Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Try a new-to-your-closet denim wash to mix things up.
—Andrea Bossi, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for closet
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Noun
Coming down from the peak of the AIDS crisis, LGBTQ+ community members were fearful of coming out of the closet through the 1990s due to the ongoing stigma facing homosexuality.
—Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 8 June 2026
The Kendra Scott Elisa Pendant Necklace is one of those timeless, everyday pieces that works with almost anything in your closet.
—Amanda Eyre Ward, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
Verb
Hired as a Skyline security guard, Aaron is promoted to fixer, keeping himself and Skyline’s A-listers closeted by any means necessary.
—Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
In the pilot, Keith was in his blue policeman’s uniform attending David’s father’s memorial service without permission from David, who was deeply closeted.
—Literary Hub, 19 May 2026
Adjective
One bullet struck a closet door in the child's bedroom.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Try a new-to-your-closet denim wash to mix things up.
—Andrea Bossi, Refinery29, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for closet
Cite this Entry
“Closet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/closet. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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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