cease

verb \ ˈsēs \

Definition of cease

ceased; ceasing

transitive verb

:to cause to come to an end especially gradually :no longer continue

they were forced to cease operations

cease to exist

intransitive verb

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

See cease defined for English-language learners

See cease defined for kids

Examples of cease in a Sentence

The fighting along the border has temporarily ceased.
The factory ceased operations last year.
The child would not cease his constant whining.

Recent Examples of cease from the Web

That threat got real when one of China's popular services, GreenVPN, told customers it had been ordered to cease operations by 1 July.

— dennis normile, Science | AAAS, "Science suffers as China’s internet censors plug holes in Great Firewall," 30 Aug. 2017
After a week of fighting, cease-fires were announced on both sides of the border earlier Sunday.

— Washington Post, "World Digest: Aug. 27, 2017," 27 Aug. 2017
As two South Carolina utilities cease construction of a pair of nuclear plants this month, over 100 manufacturing workers will soon lose their jobs at Westinghouse Electric in Rock Hill.

— katherine peralta, charlotteobserver, "Westinghouse Electric to lay off hundreds in S.C., including Rock Hill," 21 Aug. 2017
By the time the town ceased to exist in 1981, Alabama By-Products was still maintaining about 80 homes that were more than 50 years old.

— kelly kazek, AL.com, "The ghostly remains of Praco, Alabama's last coal-company town," 2 Aug. 2017
Their 1968 season would end with a 17-13 win over the Minnesota Vikings in the Playoff Bowl, a game for third-place in the NFL that ceased after the 1969 season.

— stephen schroats, star-telegram, "Dallas Cowboys are no stranger to Hall of Fame game," 2 Aug. 2017
HBO has been notoriously protective of its marquee drama, even ceasing the use of screeners after four episodes leaked ahead of the Season 5 premiere.

— laura bradley, HWD, "HBO Confirms It’s Been Hacked as Leaks Begin," 31 July 2017
Katla, however, ceased erupting and both Ragnarok and the Day of Judgment were avoided.

— The Economist, "VolcanologyEvents in Iceland explain years of famine in Europe’s Dark Ages," 18 July 2017
Silverstone's owners -- the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) -- last week announced its intentions to cease hosting the British Grand Prix after 2019, citing that race was not financially viable under the current terms of the deal.

— matthew knight, CNN, "Formula One owners Liberty Media 'committed' to Silverstone's future," 17 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cease.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of cease

Middle English cesen, from Anglo-French cesser, from Latin cessare to hold back, be remiss, frequentative of cedere

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

cease Synonyms

Synonyms

break off, break up, close, conclude, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, end, expire, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up, wink (out), bite the dust

Antonyms

continue, hang on, persist

Related Words

desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from); give over [British], knock off, pack (up or in); break down, conk (out), cut out, stall; pause, stay, suspend; abate, peter (out), wind down

Near Antonyms

draw out, extend, prolong, protract

Synonym Discussion of cease

stop, cease, quit, discontinue, desist mean to suspend or cause to suspend activity. stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness.

- stopped at the red light

cease applies to states, conditions, or existence and may add a suggestion of gradualness and a degree of finality.

- by nightfall the fighting had ceased

quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.

- the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether

discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.

- we have discontinued the manufacture of that item

desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.

- desisted from further efforts to persuade them

cease

noun

Definition of cease

:cessation —usually used with without

I kept an eye upon her without cease
—R. L. Stevenson

Examples of cease in a Sentence

worked without cease for the betterment of humanity

Recent Examples of cease from the Web

The fighting, often along ethnic lines, defies peace deals and unilateral cease-fires. ___ This version corrects the age of the journalist to 26.

— Bloomberg.com, "South Sudan Says There Was No Hint That Dead American Was a Journalist," 29 Aug. 2017
The fighting, often along ethnic lines, defies peace deals and unilateral cease-fires.

— sam mednick, chicagotribune.com, "South Sudan says no hint that dead American was a journalist," 29 Aug. 2017
More generally, Israel has been voicing concern that arrangements for cease-fires and de-escalation zones in southern Syria will help Iran and its loyalists consolidate their presence across Israel’s frontiers.

— isabel kershner, New York Times, "Iran Building Weapons Factories in Lebanon and Syria, Israel Says," 29 Aug. 2017
Provide gang mediation and intervention for high-risk youth with the goal of establishing cease-fires and building the foundation for active peace.

— carole carlson, Post-Tribune, "Seeking divine intervention in Gary's violent streets," 26 Aug. 2017
There's been some history here: Gucci sent multiple cease-and-desist letters to Forever 21, and in June, Forever 21 responded legally by denying the claim.

— christine flammia, Esquire, "Gucci Is Fed Up With Forever 21's Alleged 'Blatant Exploitation'," 10 Aug. 2017
Chicago’s festival recently sent Edwardsville a cease and desist, ordering them to change their name or pay a licensing fee.

— jessica roy, The Cut, "This Week in Drama: J.K. Rowling’s Fake News, a Bridezilla Gets Her Comeuppance, and Dueling Pierogi Festivals," 4 Aug. 2017
After a recent sweep, the city sent cease and desist orders to 16 unlicensed party bus operators.

— judy l. thomas and donna mcguire, kansascity, "Lawmakers, police call for increased scrutiny of illegal party buses," 4 Aug. 2017
After that meeting, the two sides announced a cease-fire in southwest Syria, near the border with Jordan.

— krishnadev calamur, The Atlantic, "How Trump Made It a Little Easier to For Assad to Stay in Power," 19 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of cease

see ¹cease

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

cease Synonyms

Synonyms

arrest, arrestment, end, cessation, check, close, closedown, closure, conclusion, cutoff, discontinuance, discontinuation, ending, expiration, finish, halt, lapse, offset, shutdown, shutoff, stay, stop, stoppage, surcease, termination

Antonyms

continuance, continuation

Related Words

mop-up, phaseout; abeyance, break, interruption, layoff, letup, moratorium, pause, standstill, suspension

Near Antonyms

extension, persistence, prolongation

CEASE Defined for English Language Learners

cease

verb

Definition of cease for English Language Learners

: to stop happening : to end
: to stop doing (something)

CEASE Defined for Kids

cease

verb \ ˈsēs \

Definition of cease for Students

ceased; ceasing

:to come or bring to an end :stop

The talking ceased.

Learn More about cease

See words that rhyme with cease Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for cease Spanish Central: Translation of cease Nglish: Translation of cease for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of cease for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up cease? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

cease

Definition of cease

Read the Latest from M-W

Examples of cease in a Sentence

Recent Examples of cease from the Web

Origin and Etymology of cease

cease Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of cease

cease

Definition of cease

Examples of cease in a Sentence

Recent Examples of cease from the Web

Origin and Etymology of cease

cease Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Phrases Related to CEASE

Related Phrases

CEASE Defined for English Language Learners

cease

Definition of cease for English Language Learners

CEASE Defined for Kids

cease

Definition of cease for Students

Learn More about cease

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Learned Fools: On Names for Students

Trending: NY Times: Trump's Call Ignites 'Imbroglio'

The Exceptions Quiz III

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Words of the Year: 1066