desist
Americanverb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has desistedperfect 3rd person singular
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have desistedperfect
-
have been desistingperfect progressive
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am desistingprogressive 1st person singular
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desistingparticiple
-
desistssingular 3rd person
-
has been desistingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
is desistingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are desistingprogressive
Past
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had desistedperfect
-
were desistingprogressive plural
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had been desistingperfect progressive
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desistedparticiple
-
was desistingprogressive singular
-
desistedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of desist
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Old French desister, from Latin dēsistere “to leave off,” equivalent to dē- de- + sistere “to stand, place,” akin to stāre “to stand” ( see stand)
Explanation
You can use the verb desist as a way to say "stop" or "cease." Instead of yelling "Cut it out!" the new neighbor asked the tween girls to desist from playing any more loud, screeching music from that long-haired boy-band. If you want to insist that someone stop doing something, the word desist is a solid choice. It's often used as part of a legal order called a "cease and desist," which forces an action to come to a halt. "Cease" is a synonym for desist, so using the two together says "stop it!" loud and clear — and kind of redundantly. While cease often goes hand in hand with it, desist, can also be followed by from in the form another command: "Desist from camping on the lawn of your favorite singer's home so you won't be arrested."
Vocabulary lists containing desist
Their Eyes Were Watching God
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Refugee
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In the Time of the Butterflies
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He was given a cease and desist notice and details about previous court cases which had seen defendants receiving custodial sentences.
From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026
Small is represented by barrister Francis McEntegart, who sent a cease and desist letter to the club with a demand for compensation.
From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026
Swalwell’s attorneys filed a cease and desist letter with Patel and the FBI.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026
The bar claims the firm refused to remove the attorney’s name from its website for years, ignoring a cease and desist letter from McBratney’s new employer.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2026
One day he lit into Vanguard’s index funds and almost instantly received a cease and desist order from Vanguard’s attorneys.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
