closet

1 of 3

noun

clos·​et ˈklä-zət 

ˈklȯ-

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

ˈklä-zət-ˌfu̇l 

ˈklȯ-

noun

closet

2 of 3

verb

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

closet

3 of 3

adjective

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 of closet

Noun

• pantry
• cupboard

Verb

• house

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

Noun

There is truly nothing more devastating than shrinking a closet favorite. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026

The report documents this outing with still shots from a video of the closet that one of the employees sent to Chavez-DeRemer documenting their work. — Andrea Hsu, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026

Verb

This 37% price cut gives backpackers, beachgoers, and closet rock stars an opportunity to capture surprisingly rich bass and all-weather resilience without paying standard retail prices. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026

This summer, denim ran the gamut from distressed and embellished pieces to closet staples like slouchy blue jeans and coordinating sets—and the red carpet was often the best place to see the trends. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

Adjective

When to Call a Pro Call a certified arborist for their professional services if your tree has a major lean, heaving roots, large dead limbs, or is very closet to a structure or power line. — Heather Bien, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026

These pants are a closet staple that work with all kinds of pieces. — Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026

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

Phrases Containing closet

• china closet
• closet drama
• closet queen
• glass closet
• skeletons in the/someone's closet
• walk-in closet
• water closet

Rhymes for closet

• posit
• composite
• deposit
• nanocomposite
• oviposit

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 verb

1

: to shut up in or as if in a closet

2

: to take into a private room for an interview