Sedate means calm, quiet, and serious in manner or pace. A sedate gathering is one where people talk quietly and behave properly, rather than running around or getting rowdy. When someone describes a party as sedate, they mean it was peaceful and perhaps a little formal, not wild or energetic.

The word often describes a slow, steady pace. A sedate walk is unhurried and relaxed. You might take a sedate stroll through a museum, moving slowly from painting to painting, rather than racing through the halls. A sedate conversation flows thoughtfully, without excitement or drama.

Sedate can sometimes suggest something is too calm, even a bit boring. If a movie is described as sedate, it might mean the action moves slowly without much excitement. But the word isn't necessarily negative: a sedate afternoon reading in a comfortable chair can be exactly what you want.

As a verb, to sedate someone means to give them medicine that makes them calm or sleepy, usually before a medical procedure. Doctors might sedate a patient before surgery so they feel relaxed and comfortable.