1 A2 neutral
To become less noisy, especially after a period of high activity or sound.
"The children eventually quietened down after their bedtime story."
inseparable
quieten down
A2 neutral inseparable transitive/intransitive
To become less noisy or active, or to cause someone or something to be quieter. The British English equivalent of 'quiet down.'
In plain English
To stop making noise, or to help someone else be less noisy.
What does "quieten down" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
To cause someone or a group to stop making noise.
"The presenter raised her hand to quieten down the crowd before making her announcement."
inseparable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral
For a situation or period to become less busy, dramatic, or eventful.
"The political debate has quietened down since the election results were announced."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To make quiet come down — to lower the noise level.
Actually means
To stop making noise, or to help someone else be less noisy.
Usage tip
Standard British English. Functionally identical to 'quiet down' (American English). Used both intransitively ('The baby finally quietened down') and transitively ('She tried to quieten down the dog'). Very common in everyday British speech, including in schools, homes, and public settings.
Words that pair with "quieten down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
baby class crowd dog room noise
How to conjugate "quieten down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
quieten down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
quietens down
he/she/it
Past simple
quietened down
yesterday
Past participle
quietened down
have + pp
-ing form
quietening down
continuous
Hear "quieten down" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "quieten down" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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