1
a
: an apartment or small room for privacy
b
: a monarch's or official's private chamber
2
: a cabinet or recess for especially china, household utensils, or clothing
3
: a place of retreat or privacy
4
5
: a state or condition of secrecy, privacy, or obscurity
came out of the closet
closeted; closeting; closets
1
: to shut up in or as if in a closet
2
: to take into a closet for a secret interview
1
: closely private
2
: working in or suited to the closet as the place of seclusion or study : theoretical
3
: being so in private
a closet racist
Synonyms
Examples of closet in a Sentence
Noun
The sheets and blankets are in the hall closet.
He has a closet full of new clothes.
Verb
He closeted himself in his apartment for several days.
he closeted himself in his study, vowing not to emerge until he had finished the term paper
Adjective
Some people think he's a closet homosexual.
Recent Examples on the Web
Elise Taylor, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024
Timeless fisherman jackets are essentially the coastal equivalent of barn jackets, as are classic cable knits to traditional fisherman sweaters, while the Breton stripe has held a steady course as a year-round closet staple for decades.
—Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 17 Dec. 2024
Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
During the conversation, the actor/musician also reflected on the experience of being closeted while in the public eye as one of the biggest boy bands of the late ’90s and early 2000s.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
By calling Hobbes the only liberal worth reading, Gray implies that liberals are really closet totalitarians—and know it.
—Helena Rosenblatt, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for closet 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The proposal—in the sort of Upper East Side penthouse that dreams are made of, with an even dreamier shoe closet—is pretty romantic, and initially, the wedding is set to be just as sweet: a simple courthouse wedding with a no-name cream suit.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2024
Timeless fisherman jackets are essentially the coastal equivalent of barn jackets, as are classic cable knits to traditional fisherman sweaters, while the Breton stripe has held a steady course as a year-round closet staple for decades.
—Stacia Datskovska, WWD, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
Where the old Somni was closeted away inside the SLS Hotel, the new Somni almost feels as though it’s hidden through a secret garden.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
During the conversation, the actor/musician also reflected on the experience of being closeted while in the public eye as one of the biggest boy bands of the late ’90s and early 2000s.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Whether paired with heels, sneakers, or both (like Gaines), wide-leg jeans are the closet staple your wardrobe may be missing this spring.
—Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 2 Mar. 2024
By calling Hobbes the only liberal worth reading, Gray implies that liberals are really closet totalitarians—and know it.
—Helena Rosenblatt, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for closet
Dictionary Entries Near closet
Cite this Entry
“Closet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/closet. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
closet
1 of 2 noun
clos·et
ˈkläz-ət 
1
: a small private room
2
: a cabinet or small room for china, household utensils, or clothing
closet
2 of 2 verb1
: to shut up in or as if in a closet
2
: to take into a private room for an interview
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