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The differences between Quite and Quiet: Which one means "silent", which one means "rather"?

Quiet and Quiet? At first glance, it seems difficult to detect the difference between Quiet and Quite. However, in reality, these are two words that are pronounced completely differently and used differently as well. Let's distinguish between Quiet and Quite in the article below!

The differences between 2 words Quiet and Quite

I. What is Quiet?

Before getting into the differences between Quiet and Quite, let's take a look at the meaning, some synonyms, antonyms, and common phrases associated with “Quiet”.

1. Definition

What is Quiet? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, “Quiet” means: making very little or no noise. For example:

My mother speaks in a quiet voice so as not to wake the baby.
It's so quiet without the kids here.

2. Synonyms and antonyms for Quiet

To further strengthen the understanding of Quiet, below are some common synonyms and antonyms that PREP has carefully compiled!

Synonyms and Antonyms for Quiet		Example
Synonym	silent	The museum is always in a silent state. state.
	soft	"Come here!" My grandmother said in a soft voice. voice.
	muffled	Peter could hear muffled voices from the next classroom.
	faint	There was the faint sound of traffic in the distance.
	hushed	The judge delivered his decision to a crowded but hushed courtroom.
Antonym	loud	Please turn down your music. It is so loud.
Antonym	noisy	I hate living in the city. It is so noisy.

3. Common phrases associated with Quiet

Common phrases	Example
Keep quiet	Can you keep quiet when I speak?
Be quiet!	“Be quiet!” The teacher said.
As quiet as a mouse	You'd better be as quiet as a mouse while Grandma takes her nap.
Keep quiet about	The manager wants me to keep quiet about this data.
Peaceful and quiet	Taylor enjoys living in the countryside. It is peaceful and quiet.

II. What is Quite?

To accurately distinguish between Quiet and Quite, let's explore the meaning, structures and usage of Quite below!

1. Definition

What is Quite? According to the Cambridge dictionary, Quite functions as an adverb, meaning: a little or a lot but not completely. For example:

For example:

The two problems are quite different.
I don't quite know what to say to you.

2. Structure and usage of Quite

Structure of Quite	Meaning	Example
Quite is a degree adverb	Two meanings: ‘a little, moderately but not very’ and ‘very, totally or completely’:	The kids are quite excited about moving to a new place next week.
Quite + gradable adjectives and adverbs	‘little, moderately but not very’; similar meaning to ‘rather’ or ‘fairly’	Those glasses make Jeny look quite smart.
Quite + non-gradable adjectives and adverbs	‘very’, ‘totally’ or ‘completely’	The picture was quite incredible.
Quite + noun	Emphasize the noun	There was quite a crowd at the school yard.
Quite + a lot/a bit + comparative	‘much’	My boyfriend and I went to Italy when we were quite a bit younger.
Quite + verb	Refer to large amounts and quantities	I quite enjoy sitting here and watching people go by.

3. Common phrases associated with Quite

Common phrases	Example
Quite honestly/ frankly	Quite honestly, I don't think that's a good idea.
Quite good/ interesting/ common/ difficult	The math problem was quite difficult to solve.
Quite the best, worst, etc	Maria is quite the best chef in town.
Quite a/ the/ some something (Idioms)	My team has been working on this for quite some time.
Quite the contrary	I thought John would be angry, but quite the contrary, he was very understanding.
Quite a bit, quite a few, quite a lot	A: That couple bought quite a lot of new furniture, didn't they? B: Yeah, quite a bit.

III. Differences of Quiet vs Quite

While Quiet and Quite appear similar when written, their pronunciation and meanings are entirely different. Please take a close look at the table below for the clearest distinction between Quiet and Quite in English!

	Quiet	Quite
Pronounce	Quiet /kwaɪət/	Quite /kwaɪt/
Part of speech	Adjective/ verb/ noun	Adverb
Meaning	Making very little or no noise	A little or a lot but not completely
For example	The children are very quiet. The mother wonders what they're doing?	I’ve been quite busy this week. I can't go out with you.

For more information, please refer to the following articles:

What do Basic and Basis mean? What are the similarities and differences between Basic and Basis?

IV. Exercises to distinguish between Quiet and Quite with answers

Let's practice distinguishing between Quiet and Quite more thoroughly with these two exercises!

1. Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer: Quiet or Quite

The library is a_______place to study.
1. Quiet
2. Quite
The night was so_______that you could hear a pin drop.
1. Quiet
2. Quite
The weather today is_______pleasant.
1. Quiet
2. Quite
She was_______surprised when she saw the gift.
1. Quiet
2. Quite
The food at the new restaurant is_______good.
1. Quiet
2. Quite

Exercise 2: Choose Quiet and Quite to fill in the blanks:

The library is a very ______ place to study.
I was feeling ______ tired after my long day.
That was a ______ delicious meal!
She spoke in a low, ______ voice.
This neighborhood is usually very ______ at night.

2. Answer

Exercise 1	Exercise 2
A A B B B	quiet quite quite quiet quiet

PREP hopes that after reading this article, Preppies now know how to accurately distinguish between Quiet and Quite. Be sure to frequently visit PREP to update your learning with even more useful knowledge! Wishing you all the best in conquering the English language successfully!

Master Tu Pham

Founder/CEO at Prep

Founder of Prep Smart Test Preparation Platform. With over 10 years of experience in teaching and test preparation, Mr. Tú has helped thousands of students achieve high scores in the IELTS exam. In addition, Mr. Tú Phạm is also a consulting expert in British Council programs and a speaker at many leading educational events, programs, and conferences.