calm

[ kahm, kahlm ]

adjective

, calm·er, calm·est.

1. without rough motion; still or nearly still:

   a calm sea.

   Synonyms: motionless, quiet

2. not windy or stormy:

   a calm day.

   Antonyms: tempestuous

3. free from excitement or passion; tranquil:

   a calm face;

   a calm manner.

   Synonyms: self-possessed, serene, unruffled, placid

   Antonyms: agitated

noun

1. freedom from motion or disturbance; stillness.
2. Meteorology. wind speed of less than 1 mile per hour (0.447 meter per second).
3. freedom from agitation, excitement, or passion; tranquility; serenity:

   We look forward to the calm of the island after the summer residents have all returned to the mainland.

   She faced the possibility of death with complete calm.

verb (used with object)

1. to make calm:

   He calmed the excited dog.

   Synonyms: soften, soothe, mollify, assuage, allay, tranquilize, quiet, still

verb (used without object)

1. to become calm (usually followed by down ).

calm

/ kɑːm /

adjective

1. almost without motion; still

   a calm sea

2. meteorol of force 0 on the Beaufort scale; without wind
3. not disturbed, agitated, or excited; under control

   he stayed calm throughout the confusion

4. tranquil; serene

   a calm voice

noun

1. an absence of disturbance or rough motion; stillness
2. absence of wind
3. tranquillity

verb

1. often foll by down to make or become calm

Derived Forms

• ˈcalmness, noun
• ˈcalmly, adverb

Other Words From

• calm·ing·ly adverb
• calm·ly adverb
• calm·ness noun
• qua·si-calm adjective
• un·calm adjective
• un·calm·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of calm¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun and adjective calm(e), from Italian calma (noun), calmo (adjective), from Late Latin cauma “summer heat” (with l perhaps from Latin calēre “to be hot”), from Greek kaûma (stem kaumat- ) “burning heat”; akin to kaíein “to burn” ( caustic ); verb derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of calm¹

C14: from Old French calme, from Old Italian calma, from Late Latin cauma heat, hence a rest during the heat of the day, from Greek kauma heat, from kaiein to burn

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. calm before the storm. calm before the storm ( def ).

Synonym Study

Calm, collected, composed, cool imply the absence of agitation. Calm implies an unruffled state, especially under disturbing conditions: calm in a crisis. Collected implies complete inner command of oneself, usually as the result of an effort: He remained collected in spite of the excitement. One who is composed has or has gained dignified self-possession: pale but composed. Cool implies clarity of judgment along with apparent absence of strong feeling or excitement, especially in circumstances of danger or strain: so cool that he seemed calm.

Example Sentences

The players appreciated Delus being more calm than normal.

From Los Angeles Times

And anyway, Trump is still looking for that perfect man out of Central Casting who can simultaneously keep the markets calm while helping Trump implement his monumentally idiotic tariff scheme, a job for a magician rather than a financial expert.

From Salon

The waters were mercifully calm.

From BBC

But Bellamy has been calm and assured as Wales boss, leading his team to Nations League promotion after an unbeaten first campaign which ended with Tuesday’s thumping 4-1 win over Iceland.

From BBC

"I'm not naive enough to know those moments aren't coming. I don't know when but it's going to happen. I feel like some are waiting for it happen. I know that and I have to stay calm with that."

From BBC

Related Words

• allay
• alleviate
• appease
• assuage
• cool
• mitigate
• mollify
• pacify
• placate
• quiet
• relax
• relieve
• settle
• soothe
• steady