keep quiet

phrase

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.
With most guests required to sign strict NDAs and instructed to keep quiet about the intimate event, Kelce’s decision to speak publicly has deeply upset them. Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 14 Aug. 2026 But that was more a failure of VAR, which saw the incident but decided to keep quiet. Graham Scott, New York Times, 23 July 2026 And everyone somehow would have to keep quiet — a highly unlikely scenario. Ali Swenson, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026 Soon, Jessica and Ron find themselves being offered what starts as $10,000 before becoming $100,000 to keep quiet about this whole finger business. Chase Hutchinson, IndieWire, 19 Mar. 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 18 Aug. 2026.

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