keep quiet

idiom

1
: to not say anything or make any noise
He thought about telling the police what he knew, but he decided to keep quiet.
Please keep quiet during the movie.
2
: to not say anything about (something)
She kept her plans quiet.
3
: to prevent (someone or something) from making noise
She gave the dog a bone to keep him quiet.
4
: to prevent (someone) from revealing information about something
They paid money to the witness to keep him quiet.

Examples of keep quiet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The organizers asked her to keep quiet about her victory until instructed otherwise. Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2026 During its run, the show became famous for its shocking twists, from fake deaths to surprise double agents and time jumps — all of which Garner had to keep quiet about. Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026 Musk reportedly offered her $15 million to keep quiet about the kid but then publicly volunteered to take a paternity test. Joseph Wilkinson, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026 Musk reportedly offered her $15 million to keep quiet about the kid but then publicly volunteered to take a paternity test. Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for keep quiet

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Cite this Entry

“Keep quiet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keep%20quiet. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.

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