cease

[ sees ]

verb (used without object)

, ceased, ceas·ing.

1. to stop; discontinue:

   Not all medieval beliefs have ceased to exist.

   Antonyms: begin

2. to come to an end:

   At last the war has ceased.

   Synonyms: culminate, end, terminate

   Antonyms: begin

3. Obsolete. to pass away; die out.

verb (used with object)

, ceased, ceas·ing.

1. to put a stop or end to; discontinue:

   He begged them to cease their quarreling.

noun

1. cessation:

   The noise of the drilling went on for hours without cease.

cease

/ siːs /

verb

1. whentr, may take a gerund or an infinitive as object to bring or come to an end; desist from; stop

noun

1. without cease
   without stopping; incessantly

Word History and Origins

Origin of cease¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English ces(s)en, from Old French cesser, from Latin cessāre “to leave off,” equivalent to cess(us) (past participle of cēdere “to withdraw, go”; cede

Word History and Origins

Origin of cease¹

C14: from Old French cesser, from Latin cessāre, frequentative of cēdere to yield, cede

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. never cease to amaze. never cease to amaze.

More idioms and phrases containing cease

In addition to the idiom beginning with cease , also see wonders will never cease .

Example Sentences

The order had no meaningful effect on the law, but the return of Trump to the White House, Republican control of the House and Senate, and a conservative majority on the Supreme Court have given religious groups, especially evangelical leaders, hope that the law will soon cease to be a barrier to them.

From Los Angeles Times

The CEOs of Citi and Bank of America both met with Trump in June; the former, at least, is ready for Trump to cease the government’s regulatory scrapes with Citigroup.

From Slate

Among its recommendations, it calls for U.N. member states, including the United States, to “cease aiding or assisting in the commission of violations; explore accountability measures against alleged perpetrators of international crimes, grave human rights violations and abuses in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

From Salon

He said he would sign an executive order upon taking office “instructing every federal agency to cease all programs that promote the concept of sex and gender transition at any age”; block federal funding to hospitals that provide gender-affirming care; ensure “severe consequences” for teachers who acknowledge transgender children; and push schools to “promote positive education about the nuclear family, the roles of mothers and fathers, and celebrating rather than erasing the things that make men and women different and unique.”

From Los Angeles Times

When Musk took over the company and fired nearly everyone who worked there, many predicted that the site would cease to function.

From Slate

Related Words

• break off
• desist
• discontinue
• fail
• halt
• quit
• refrain
• terminate