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
Hannah Freedman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2025
There’s no better time like the present to invest in these new-and-improved closet classics.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2025
Rod Nerdahl, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2024
But what if the officer in question was closeted and one of these strangers slipped him his phone number?
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
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 
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Sorel is known for its high-quality winter boots, so these shoes are a worthy investment to add to your closet.
—Hannah Freedman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2025
There’s no better time like the present to invest in these new-and-improved closet classics.
—Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2025
Verb
As the illustration shows, the Moon will be closet to Jupiter on Valentine’s Day (the gap between them will be three degrees that evening).
—Rod Nerdahl, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2024
But what if the officer in question was closeted and one of these strangers slipped him his phone number?
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
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 16 Feb. 2025.
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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