Word
closet
Phoneticsclos·et, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɫɑzət/
UK/klˈɒzɪt/
Definitions
01storage space
A2 · Elementary Countable noun American English
n. a small room or a large cupboard used for storing clothes, towels, or other household items.
n. a small, enclosed space or cabinet used for storage. Predominantly American English in this sense; British English speakers typically prefer 'wardrobe' or 'cupboard'.
“He hung his winter coats in the back of the closet until next year.”
“The master bedroom features a spacious walk-in closet with custom shelving for shoes and accessories.”
Usage
Often used with 'walk-in' to describe a storage space large enough to enter.
02state of secrecy
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. a state of keeping your true feelings or identity secret from other people.
n. a state of secrecy or concealment, particularly regarding one's sexual orientation or a hidden aspect of one's identity.
“He spent many years in the closet before finally telling his family the truth.”
“The documentary explores the psychological toll of living in the closet during an era of intense social prejudice.”
Usage
Commonly used in the idiomatic phrase 'in the closet' or 'to come out of the closet'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03secret or hidden
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
adj. describes someone who keeps a belief, habit, or part of their identity secret.
adj. denoting a person who hides a specific interest, belief, or identity from the public. Usually functions as an attributive adjective before a noun.
“She is a closet fan of reality TV shows, though she pretends to hate them.”
“He was a closet revolutionary who spent his days working as a quiet clerk while writing manifestos at night.”
Usage
Typically placed directly before the noun it modifies.
Synonyms
04to shut away
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to put yourself or someone else in a private room for a secret meeting.
v. to shut someone away in a private room, typically for the purpose of confidential discussion or seclusion. Transitive; often used in the passive voice or as a reflexive verb.
“The lawyers closeted themselves in the office to finish the contract.”
“The jury was closeted for several hours before finally reaching a unanimous verdict on the complex case.”
Teaching tip
This verbal use is much less common than the noun and is usually found in formal writing or news reports about high-level negotiations.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Middle English closet, from Old French closet, from clos (“private space”) + -et (diminutive suffix), from Latin clausum. Equivalent to close + -et, but generally applied in French solely to small open-air enclosures.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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