closet

closet — noun

1. A storage space that has a door, often built into a wall or made as a separate p

1.nounA2
Definition

A storage space that has a door, often built into a wall or made as a separate piece of furniture, where people keep clothes and other belongings.

Example

Priya hung her school uniform in the closet before dinner.

collocation: hang ... in the closet

The towels are stored on the top shelf of the hall closet.

passive: are stored + location

Common collocations
  • walk-in closet
  • closet door
  • closet shelf
  • hall closet
  • bedroom closet
  • linen closet
Synonyms
  • cupboard

    a similar piece of furniture or built-in storage; more common in British English for kitchen items

  • wardrobe

    a tall piece of furniture used specifically for hanging clothes; more common in British English

  • cabinet

    a piece of furniture with shelves and doors, often used for dishes, documents, or electronics

Grammar Patterns

the + closet

possessive + closet

Idioms

come out of the closet

idiom

To stop hiding a secret about yourself, especially that you are gay, and tell others.

Maya finally came out of the closet to her parents last year.

Did your friend come out of the closet at the family dinner?

(be, remain, stay, etc.) in the closet

idiom

To keep a secret about yourself, especially that you are gay, from most people.

Diego remained in the closet at work for many years.

Why does your cousin stay in the closet despite supportive friends?

a skeleton in the closet

idiom

An embarrassing or shocking secret from your past that you try to hide.

Every politician seems to have a skeleton in the closet.

Sara discovered a skeleton in the closet when she read her grandfather's diary.

closet — verb

closet — adjective

Word family

  • closeted
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words refer to storage furniture, but they differ in typical use and regional preference. Cupboard is the most general term in British English, used for kitchen dishes, food, or household items; in American English it usually refers to a kitchen cabinet. Wardrobe specifically describes a tall piece of furniture for hanging clothes, and is more common in British English — Americans typically say 'closet' for a built-in space or 'wardrobe' for a freestanding piece. Cabinet usually refers to a piece with shelves and doors, often found in a kitchen, bathroom, or office for storing dishes, medicines, or documents. Example: 'She stored her coats in the bedroom wardrobe' (British) vs 'She stored her coats in the bedroom closet' (American).

cupboard ↗wardrobe ↗cabinet ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • in the closet
  • out of the closet
  • skeleton in the closet

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'closet' entered English from Old French 'closet', meaning a small enclosed space. The French word comes from 'clos' (enclosed), which traces back to Latin 'clausum' (a closed space), from the verb 'claudere' (to close). Originally it referred to a small private room for reading or prayer, and later came to mean a storage space for clothes and household items.