quietude

noun

qui·​etude ˈkwī-ə-ˌtüd How to pronounce quietude (audio)
-ˌtyüd
: a quiet state : repose

Examples of quietude in a Sentence

after his tantrum, the toddler lapsed into an exhausted quietude and fell asleep the quietude of the early morning was broken only by the occasional chirping of birds
Recent Examples on the Web McQueen’s script doesn’t waste any time, but the director savors these moments of domestic quietude as much as Rita and George do. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2024 The effect is meditative and moving, an urgent quietude not always found in the Sturm und Drang that attends both our contemporary poetry and our politics. Tomas Tranströmer, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024 Related Stories Lifestyle Cover Reveal: Graydon Carter's Vanity Fair Tell-All Lifestyle Julia Roberts to Narrate Audiobook of Lisa Marie Presley's Posthumous Memoir The quietude of the scene belies the tumult that occurred here just days before. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Oct. 2024 Another Island Looking for a little extra quietude? Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for quietude 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quietude.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin quiētūdō, from Latin quiētus quiet entry 2 + -tūdō, suffix of abstract nouns

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quietude was in 1597

Dictionary Entries Near quietude

Cite this Entry

“Quietude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quietude. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

quietude

noun
qui·​etude ˈkwī-ə-ˌt(y)üd How to pronounce quietude (audio)
: the state of being quiet : tranquillity

More from Merriam-Webster on quietude

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