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
Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026
Other pleasures are the fireplaces in the bedroom and living room (one wood burning, one decorative), original crown moldings, and the in-unit washer-dryer combo tucked away in a closet.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 22 June 2026
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 June 2026
At a time when most employees were closeted, a group of the company’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans employees came together to form the Lambda Network to reshape Kodak’s corporate culture and company policies.
—Tamar Carroll, The Conversation, 18 June 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
There's also a walk-in pantry, a laundry closet with appliances, and a powder room featuring a custom pedestal vanity.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026
Other pleasures are the fireplaces in the bedroom and living room (one wood burning, one decorative), original crown moldings, and the in-unit washer-dryer combo tucked away in a closet.
—Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 22 June 2026
Verb
France spoke at length about being cast on the show while he was still closeted to his family, which led to his coming out just two days before the premiere on Tuesday's episode of the Dinner's on Me podcast, hosted by Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 June 2026
At a time when most employees were closeted, a group of the company’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans employees came together to form the Lambda Network to reshape Kodak’s corporate culture and company policies.
—Tamar Carroll, The Conversation, 18 June 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 24 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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