1
: a military order to cease firing
2
: a suspension of active hostilities

Examples of cease-fire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Vice President Harris demanded that Israel allow more aid into Gaza and that Hamas agree to an immediate six-week cease-fire deal. Rachel pannett, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 In Egypt, talks were underway to broker a cease-fire before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins next week. Tia Goldenberg, arkansasonline.com, 4 Mar. 2024 Monday's meeting in Washington, D.C., comes one day after Harris called for an immediate, temporary cease-fire in Gaza to facilitate an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners and detainees. D. Parvaz, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024 Bibi Netanyahu doesn't want to have that long a cease-fire. CBS News, 3 Mar. 2024 Harris calls for an ‘immediate cease-fire’ in her most forceful comments on the conflict in Gaza. Patrick Kingsley, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Hamas released some of the hostages during a temporary cease-fire agreements that ended on Dec. 1. Cary Spivak, Journal Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2024 The leaders also discussed the U.S., Egypt and Qatar to broker an extended cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, Italy's priorities for a G7 presidency, migrant flows into Italy from North Africa, and their countries' China policies. TIME, 1 Mar. 2024 Topline The Biden administration announced the U.S. will begin air-dropping aid to Gaza in the coming days to improve the conditions for Palestinians amid Hamas’ ongoing conflict with Israel—news that comes as a cease-fire agreement becomes seemingly less likely to occur soon. Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cease-fire was in 1844

Dictionary Entries Near cease-fire

Cite this Entry

“Cease-fire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cease-fire. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cease-fire

noun
ˈsēs-ˈfī(ə)r
: a temporary stopping of warfare

More from Merriam-Webster on cease-fire

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