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

Several politicians who represent Porter Ranch and support closing Aliso Canyon said they are frustrated by what they see as a lack of urgency and clarity around when the site will realistically cease operation.

From Los Angeles Times

Colonna said it also ceased production and distribution of all cinnamon.

From Salon

But the atrocities described in the report have not ceased: For example, the stun grenade dropped on a polio vaccination clinic during a humanitarian pause, wounding several children.

From Salon

A review into the suspension order carried out by the NMC on 4 November heard she ceased to practise as a nurse in 2020.

From BBC

A DNA-testing firm appears to have ceased trading - without telling its customers what has happened to the highly sensitive data they shared with it.

From BBC

Related Words

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