peace

1 of 2

noun

1
: a state of tranquility or quiet: such as
a
: freedom from civil disturbance
Peace and order were finally restored in the town.
b
: a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom
a breach of the peace
2
: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
I have been in perfect peace and contentmentJ. H. Newman
3
: harmony in personal relations
The sisters are at peace with each other.
4
a
: a state or period of mutual concord between governments
There was a peace of 50 years before war broke out again.
b
: a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity
offered the possibility of a negotiated peaceNew York Times
5
used interjectionally to ask for silence or calm or as a greeting or farewell

peace

2 of 2

verb

peaced; peacing; peaces

intransitive verb

obsolete
: to be, become, or keep silent or quiet
Phrases
at peace
: in a state of concord or tranquility
The problem was settled and his mind was at peace.

Examples of peace in a Sentence

Noun After many years of war, people on both sides were longing for peace. We said a prayer for world peace. He tried to negotiate a peace between the warring countries. There was a peace of 50 years before war broke out again. Peace and order were finally restored in the town. After years of therapy, he has finally achieved an inner peace. He is searching for inner peace. Insurance can provide you with peace of mind. The problem was settled and his mind was at peace. They are at peace with each other.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But both of these men threaten the peace and security of the entire world. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 But that peace never materialized and Palestinians still rely heavily on Israel for jobs, market access, tax collection, and imports of raw materials and essential goods. Claire Parker, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Herzog, before becoming president, which is a largely ceremonial role, used to head Israel’s Labor party, which historically has been an advocate for making peace with Palestinians. Reuters, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 American, Emirati and Israeli officials predicted that their deal, called the Abraham Accords, would spread peace across the Middle East. Vivian Nereim, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 There is no other path that guarantees peace between Israel and all of its Arab neighbors, including Saudi Arabia. USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 Their armed presence divided Lebanese public opinion between those who wanted to make peace with Israel and those who wanted to defend the Palestinian cause. Mireille Rebeiz, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024 But after 9/11, escaping the war in Beirut did not mean finding peace in the U.S. Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024 Robinson is at peace with doing whatever is asked, having long since moved past the disappointment of being yanked from the starting lineup on March 28, 2022, after starting 208 of his previous 217 appearances. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024
Verb
Peace talks, if not peace itself, may be close at hand in Afghanistan. James Dobbins, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2015 Charity Lawson kicked off this week’s episode of The Bachelorette by apologizing for peacing out of the barbecue last week after learning that Brayden called her classless. Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 11 July 2023 As many as 60 to 80 percent of milk, wheat, and egg allergies can peace out by puberty—a pattern that might also be related to the instability of the allergens involved. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 5 Oct. 2022

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English pees, from Anglo-French pes, pees, from Latin pac-, pax; akin to Latin pacisci to agree — more at pact

First Known Use

Noun

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of peace was in the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near peace

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

peace

noun
ˈpēs
1
: a state of quiet
especially : freedom from public disturbance or war
2
: freedom from upsetting thoughts or feelings
3
: harmony in personal relations
4
a
: a state or period of peace between governments
b
: an agreement to end a war
Etymology

Noun

Middle English pees "peace," from early French pes, pees (same meaning), from Latin pac-, pax "peace" — related to appease, pacify

Legal Definition

peace

noun
: a state of tranquility or quiet: as
a
: a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom
keeping the peace
b
: freedom from civil disturbance

Geographical Definition

Peace

geographical name

river 1195 miles (1923 kilometers) long in western Canada flowing east and northeast in northern British Columbia and northern Alberta into the Slave River see finlay

More from Merriam-Webster on peace

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