closet
gb/klˈɑzət/ us/klˈɑzət/
A2
English
~ 1200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
small storage space in a room
A small closed space in a room where you keep clothes or other things.
Usage pattern:
a [adjective] closet
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'closet' with 'cabinet'; 'closet' is usually larger and used for clothes or bigger items.
Synonyms
cupboard (More common in British English for general storage; not always built-in.)
|
wardrobe (Piece of furniture for storing clothes; not necessarily built-in.)
Antonyms
open shelf (An open storage space without doors or enclosure.)
Collocations
walk-in closet
|linen closet
|bedroom closet
|hall closet
Themes
daily life
|home
|housing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She hung her winter coats in the hallway closet.
- The cleaning supplies are stored in the closet next to the bathroom.
- He opened the closet to find his shoes.
- Our apartment has a large walk-in closet.
- I need to organize the closet before guests arrive.
Learner examples
- I put my jacket in the closet.
- The closet is full of clothes.
- There are shoes in the closet.
- She keeps boxes in the closet.
Noun
B2
state
2
state of hiding personal identity
When someone hides an important part of who they are from other people, often about being gay.
Usage pattern:
in the closet
Common mistake:
Some learners take 'in the closet' literally; here it means hiding personal identity, not being inside furniture.
Synonyms
concealment (General term for keeping something secret; not specific to identity.)
Antonyms
openness (The act of being open and honest about one's identity.)
Collocations
stay in the closet
|come out of the closet
Themes
identity
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He remained in the closet for many years before telling his family.
- Many celebrities have come out of the closet to support LGBTQ+ rights.
- Living in the closet can be emotionally exhausting.
Learner examples
- He is still in the closet.
- She came out of the closet last year.
- Living in the closet is hard.
Verb
B2
action
3
to put into a storage space
To put something or someone inside a small closed space like a closet.
Usage pattern:
to closet [something/someone] [somewhere]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'close'; 'closet' as a verb specifically involves putting into an enclosed space.
Synonyms
store (General and broader; not necessarily in a closet.)
|
lock away (To put away securely and prevent access.)
Antonyms
retrieve (To take something out from where it was stored.)
Collocations
closet oneself away
|closet documents
Themes
daily life
|daily_life
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She closeted the gifts until his birthday.
- The teacher closeted the confiscated phones in her office.
- He closeted himself in his study to work.
Learner examples
- I closeted my coat before dinner.
- She closeted the toys after playtime.
- He closeted himself in his room.
Grammar
Dictionary form
closet
IPA
GB/klˈɑzət/
US/klˈɑzət/
Syllables & stress
closet (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (closet)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: closet
- Plural: closets
Verb
- Base: closet
- 3rd Person Singular: closets
- Present Participle: closeting
- Past: closeted
Word family
Forms
closets
noun
closeting
verb
closeted
verb
Expressions
come out of the closet
1/kˈʌm ˈaʊt əv ðə klˈɑzət/
idiom
reveal hidden identity
To tell people about something important you have kept secret about yourself, often about being gay.
Examples
- She finally came out of the closet to her friends.
- Many public figures have come out of the closet to support equality.
in the closet
1/ˈɪn ðə klˈɑzət/
fixed phrase
keeping identity secret
Hiding something important about yourself, often about being gay.
Examples
- He has been in the closet for years.
- Living in the closet can be stressful.
skeleton in the closet
1/skˈɛlətən ˈɪn ðə klˈɑzət/
idiom
hidden shameful secret
A bad or embarrassing thing from your past that you don't want people to know about.
Examples
- Every family has a skeleton in the closet.
- The politician's skeleton in the closet was revealed by reporters.