ceased; ceasing
: to cause to come to an end especially gradually : no longer continue
they were forced to cease operations
cease to exist
1
a
: to come to an end
the fighting gradually ceased
b
: to bring an activity or action to an end : discontinue
they have been ordered to cease and desist
2
obsolete
: to become extinct : die out
: cessation
—usually used with without
I kept an eye upon her without cease—
R. L. Stevenson
R. L. StevensonExamples of cease in a Sentence
Verb
The fighting along the border has temporarily ceased.
The factory ceased operations last year.
The child would not cease his constant whining.
Noun
worked without cease for the betterment of humanity
Recent Examples on the Web
Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Baker's lawsuit was seeking back pay, attorney's fees and an injunction ordering the county to cease behavior that discriminates against minorities and suppresses residents' First Amendment rights.
—Bayliss Wagner, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
But throughout the day Monday as those fears of a wider conflict retreated and hopes for a cease fire increased, the price of oil started falling sharply.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cease
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Verb
Trump signed an order May 2 directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to cease funding NPR and PBS.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Baker's lawsuit was seeking back pay, attorney's fees and an injunction ordering the county to cease behavior that discriminates against minorities and suppresses residents' First Amendment rights.
—Bayliss Wagner, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Noun
Last Friday,the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments about the fate of TikTok, the ruling of which could result in a ban in mere days and a cease to endless scrolling.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
But throughout the day Monday as those fears of a wider conflict retreated and hopes for a cease fire increased, the price of oil started falling sharply.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for cease
Cite this Entry
“Cease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cease. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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