ceaseless

American  

[sees-lis] / ˈsis lɪs /

adjective

1. without stop or pause; unending; incessant.

   Synonyms:

   unceasing, constant, continuous, endless

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ceaseless British  

/ ˈsiːslɪs /

adjective

1. without stop or pause; incessant

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• ceaselessness
  noun
• ceaselessly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of ceaseless

First recorded in 1580–90; cease + -less

Explanation

Someone who is on a ceaseless quest for the world’s tastiest French fry will never stop searching until they find it, in all its greasy glory. Ceaseless is an adjective that means “never-ending” or “uninterrupted.” The verb cease means “to stop,” so ceaseless refers to something that never stops. You might listen to the ceaseless sound of crashing waves at the beach, or you could say that the Internet is a ceaseless source of information. Ceaseless can also refer to things that only seem like they go on forever; it’s often used in the phrase “seemingly ceaseless.” During a blizzard you might complain about the ceaseless snow, even though the snow will eventually stop.

Related Words

• constant
• continual
• continuous
• endless
• incessant
• nonstop
• perpetual
• unceasing
• unending
• unremitting