quieter

Quieter is the comparative form of the adjective quiet, and is used to describe something that emits less noise or has a lower level of disturbance than something else. It can refer to sounds, environments, voices, machines, or atmospheres, and it can describe physical quiet as well as figurative calm or reduced activity.

In use, quieter typically compares two items or states: “The room is quieter than before,” or “They chose a quieter neighborhood.” It can appear before a noun (a quieter street) or after a linking verb (the street is quieter). While some contexts allow the expression more quiet, the standard and more common form for everyday English is quieter.

Etymology and related forms: quiet derives from Latin quietus, through Old French quiet, with sense developments toward absence of noise, calm, or stillness. Related words include quietness (the state of being quiet), silence (absence of sound or speech), and hush (to cause to become quiet). The superlative is quietest.

Usage notes: quieter often conveys a noticeable reduction in noise or activity relative to another situation. In formal writing, prefer quieter over more quiet for standard comparisons, though both are understandable. The term can describe tangible sounds (a quieter engine) or abstract conditions (a quieter atmosphere after the announcement). As with many adjectives, nuances may shift with context and tone, but the core meaning remains a relative decrease in noise or disturbance.