ceasefire
noun
cease·fire
ˈsēs-ˈfi(-ə)r 
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
That marked one of the most significant engagements between the two groups since a fragile ceasefire went into effect in November 2024, and Israel has not ruled out further action.
—
Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
Hezbollah’s retaliatory strikes in northern Israel were the group’s first action against Israel since a ceasefire agreement was signed in November 2024.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 2 Mar. 2026
The latest cross-border fighting ended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
The Houthis ended their campaign when Israel and Hamas came to a ceasefire last fall.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Mar. 2026
Gaza's Health Ministry on Wednesday reported 618 Palestinians had been killed since the start of the ceasefire, bringing the cumulative toll to 72,082 killed since the start of Israel's offensive.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Feb. 2026
The ceasefire agreement calls for Hamas to disarm and hand over power to a committee of Palestinian administrators, and for Israel to withdraw as international forces are deployed.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Pakistan and Afghanistan have yet to reach a formal agreement after several rounds of peace talks failed in November, following the October ceasefire.
—Mushtaq Yusufzai, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
The president cheered brokering a fragile ceasefire deal in Gaza and his team’s bringing home hostages taken by Hamas militants, capturing autocratic leader Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela and pressing fellow NATO members to increase defense spending among his biggest wins.
—Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
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Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 2 Mar. 2026
Hezbollah’s retaliatory strikes in northern Israel were the group’s first action against Israel since a ceasefire agreement was signed in November 2024.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 2 Mar. 2026
The latest cross-border fighting ended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkey in October.
—ABC News, 2 Mar. 2026
The Houthis ended their campaign when Israel and Hamas came to a ceasefire last fall.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 2 Mar. 2026
Gaza's Health Ministry on Wednesday reported 618 Palestinians had been killed since the start of the ceasefire, bringing the cumulative toll to 72,082 killed since the start of Israel's offensive.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Feb. 2026
The ceasefire agreement calls for Hamas to disarm and hand over power to a committee of Palestinian administrators, and for Israel to withdraw as international forces are deployed.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Pakistan and Afghanistan have yet to reach a formal agreement after several rounds of peace talks failed in November, following the October ceasefire.
—Mushtaq Yusufzai, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026
The president cheered brokering a fragile ceasefire deal in Gaza and his team’s bringing home hostages taken by Hamas militants, capturing autocratic leader Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela and pressing fellow NATO members to increase defense spending among his biggest wins.
—Aamer Madhani, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ceasefire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceasefire. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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