calm

1 of 3

noun

ˈkäm How to pronounce calm (audio) ˈkälm How to pronounce calm (audio)
ˈkam,
ˈkȯ(l)m
1
a
: a period or condition of freedom from storms, high winds, or rough activity of water
a sailing ship motionless in the calm
b
: complete absence of wind or presence of wind having a speed no greater than one mile (1.6 kilometers) per hour see Beaufort Scale Table
2
: a state of tranquility
At dusk a quiet calm settled over the town.

calm

2 of 3

verb

calmed; calming; calms

intransitive verb

: to become calm
usually used with down
The mayor asked the protesters to calm down so he could speak.

transitive verb

: to make calm
often used with down
calm him down; get him to be reasonableS. H. Adams

calm

3 of 3

adjective

1
: marked by calm : still
a calm sea
2
: free from agitation, excitement, or disturbance
calmly adverb
calmness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for calm

calm, tranquil, serene, placid, peaceful mean quiet and free from disturbance.

calm often implies a contrast with a foregoing or nearby state of agitation or violence.

the protests ended, and the streets were calm again

tranquil suggests a very deep quietude or composure.

the tranquil beauty of a formal garden

serene stresses an unclouded and lofty tranquility.

watched the sunset of a serene summer's evening

placid suggests an undisturbed appearance and often implies a degree of complacency.

remained placid despite the criticism

peaceful implies a state of repose in contrast with or following strife or turmoil.

grown peaceful in old age

Examples of calm in a Sentence

Noun After two days of violent protests, the mayor appealed for calm. The calm was broken by another terrorist bombing. the calm of a church Police tried to restore calm after the riot. A quiet calm settled over the city. Verb His words were effective in calming her fears. The medicine helped calm her breathing. Adjective The teacher asked us to remain calm after the fire alarm went off. Let's try to have a calm discussion about your grades.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Once the initial period of calm has been established, the hope is that both sides will feel pressure to agree to something more permanent. Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Critics from the center and the right railed that, even as the country burned, Mélenchon hadn’t called for calm. Elisabeth Zerofsky, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 In doing so, the toy can help autistic children regulate their sensory needs and provide a sense of calm. Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024 But with nearly 100 growing gangs in the metropolitan area, the force just does not have the firepower or training to restore calm to the country, sources say. Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 The Westwood Drug Store and especially Hollis Johnson’s, the cozy 1950s-style diner in back, became an island of calm in a Jerry West world spinning off its axis. Scott Howard-Cooper., Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Though calm had temporarily returned to the capital on Friday and airlines resumed their international flights, the situation remains volatile. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 So, if this deal happens, and there are six weeks of calm that go with it, does that provide an opening to end this war? CBS News, 25 Feb. 2024 But the continued cycle of Houthi attacks stands in contrast to the situation in Iraq and Syria, where U.S. forces weathered more than 150 attacks between October and Feb. 4, but are now seeing a relative period of calm. Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024
Verb
The British royals had tried to calm concern and battle conspiracy theories about the health of Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, with a photo shared by Kensington Palace on Sunday. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Mar. 2024 The neighbor said the police could have handled things differently, like giving the man’s mother more time to calm him down. Omar Rodríguez Ortiz, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024 But amid widespread distrust of the government, the report is unlikely to calm a growing obsession with aliens. Julian E. Barnes, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Diplomacy has taken place between the two sides, with a bilateral meeting held in Shanghai between China and the Philippines late January and both sides agreeing to calm tensions and find ways to communicate over their differences. Rebecca Wright, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 This soothing sensory experience can help calm an autistic child in overwhelming or stressful situations. Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 6 Mar. 2024 In addition to lowering cortisol, a warm bath can calm the nervous system by encouraging the body to release neurotransmitters like serotonin, which contribute to feelings of contentment and well-being. Georgia Day, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2024 However, expectations for a soft landing for the economy have calmed jitters. Robert Daugherty, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 The velvety color is calming, stylish, and elegant. Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The lake was calm, disturbed only by the sound of small animals jumping into the water. Jared Lemus, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2024 Then try to go into into the conversation with a calm, positive attitude, and prepare to potentially educate your partner. Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2024 Everybody’s happy, everybody’s calm, everybody’s respecting each other. William Earl, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024 Edged by a dramatic rock wall that gives way to a soft fringe of trees, the water provided a cool, calm retreat after being tossed about by the intense shore break of the Atlantic. Mya Guarnieri, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024 Aim to remain calm Do your best to keep your emotions in check. Karen Horsch, Parents, 1 Mar. 2024 Keep calm Despite the euphoria surrounding the latest growth figures, economists are advising caution. Diksha Madhok, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 Most day trippers visiting on a cruise will stick to the beach clubs facing the calm Caribbean Sea and Playa del Carmen skyline. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2024 Blossoms, though, can stick around for a couple of weeks if the weather is calm and there aren’t any major rainstorms. Brittany Anas, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'calm.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, and Adjective

Middle English calme, probably ultimately from Old Spanish calma, from Late Latin cauma heat, from Greek kauma, from kaiein to burn

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of calm was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near calm

Cite this Entry

“Calm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calm. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

calm

1 of 3 noun
1
a
: a period or state of freedom from storm, wind, or rough water
b
: complete lack of wind or the presence of wind of no more than one mile (1.6 kilometers) per hour
2
: a state of freedom from excitement or disturbance : peacefulness

calm

2 of 3 verb
: to make or become calm

calm

3 of 3 adjective
1
: marked by calm : still
a calm sea
2
: free from excitement or disturbance
a calm manner
calmly adverb
calmness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on calm

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