ceasefire

noun

cease·​fire ˈsēs-ˈfi(-ə)r How to pronounce ceasefire (audio)
variants or less commonly cease-fire
plural ceasefires also cease-fires
1
: a military order to cease firing
2
: a suspension of active hostilities

Examples of ceasefire in a Sentence

the two armies declared a ceasefire for the holiday
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As part of the ceasefire, Hamas released the remaining 20 living hostages held in Gaza, while Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025 Trump also offered an olive branch to Iran, suggested intervening in fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the US may facilitate a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. Ben Smith, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025 Gaza faces rebuilding challenges as the first phase of the ceasefire remains in place. Brittney Melton, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025 Trump is growing increasingly frustrated at Putin’s unwillingness to discuss American ceasefire proposals. Brian Bennett, Time, 17 Oct. 2025 As with the recent ceasefire in Gaza, those meetings have the potential to turn down the temperature, at least somewhat, in some of the most concerning parts of the globe. David Goldman, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025 The film world was soon responding, as the world waits to see if the ceasefire holds. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025 In Milwaukee as in the Middle East, the news of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has prompted mixed feelings of relief, joy, grief and uncertainty for Jewish and Palestinian community members. Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025 The international community will be closely watching to see if the ceasefire in Gaza holds, as the next stages of the peace plan are negotiated. Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ceasefire was in 1844

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ceasefire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceasefire. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

cease-fire

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

More from Merriam-Webster on ceasefire

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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