verb
quell
kwehl
Quell (verb) means to bring a disturbance, rebellion, or strong feeling under control; to suppress it. Example: “Troops were sent in to quell the riot.”
verb
1
To bring a disturbance, rebellion, or strong feeling under control; to suppress it.
"Troops were sent in to quell the riot."
"A cup of tea helped quell her nerves before the interview."
How to use quell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo stop or calm something forceful — an uprising, fear, or noise.
Common pairings
quell fears
quell a rebellion
quell unrest
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Word forms
- Plural
- quells
- Third person singular
- quells
- Past tense
- quelled
- Archaic forms
- quellest, quelledst, quelleth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Troops were sent in to _____ the riot.
Etymology
From Old English cwellan, "to kill" — related to the modern word kill.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “quell” mean?
The word “quell” means to bring a disturbance, rebellion, or strong feeling under control; to suppress it. In plain terms, to stop or calm something forceful — an uprising, fear, or noise.
How do you pronounce “quell”?
“Quell” is pronounced kwehl (/kwɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “quell” in a sentence?
Here is “quell” used in a sentence: “Troops were sent in to quell the riot.”
What part of speech is “quell”?
“Quell” is a verb.
Where does the word “quell” come from?
The word “quell” comes from Old English. From Old English cwellan, "to kill" — related to the modern word kill.
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