- Today's Word
Quiescent
kwee-ESS-unt
Definition
(adjective) In a state of quiet inactivity or dormancy.
Example
The volcano remains quiescent, but scientists are watching closely.
Fun Fact
Quiescent is often used in science and medicine—describing dormant cells, inactive phases, or sleeping systems. But it also applies metaphorically to ideas, conflicts, or people in a pause—quiet, but not dead. In stories, a quiescent moment often comes just before something big happens.