calm
Americanadjective
-
calmer,
comparative
-
calmest
superlative
-
without rough motion; still or nearly still.
a calm sea.
- Synonyms:
- motionless, quiet
-
not windy or stormy.
a calm day.
- Antonyms:
- tempestuous
-
free from excitement or passion; tranquil.
a calm face;
a calm manner.
- Synonyms:
- self-possessed, serene, unruffled, placid
- Antonyms:
- agitated
noun
-
freedom from motion or disturbance; stillness.
-
Meteorology. wind speed of less than 1 mile per hour (0.447 meter per second).
-
freedom from agitation, excitement, or passion; tranquility; serenity.
We look forward to the calm of the island after the summer residents have all returned to the mainland.
She faced the possibility of death with complete calm.
verb (used with object)
-
calms,
present (3rd person singular)
-
calmed,
past participle, past
-
calming
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
calms,
present (3rd person singular)
-
calmed,
past participle, past
-
calming
present participle
idioms
adjective
-
almost without motion; still
a calm sea
-
meteorol of force 0 on the Beaufort scale; without wind
-
not disturbed, agitated, or excited; under control
he stayed calm throughout the confusion
-
tranquil; serene
a calm voice
noun
-
an absence of disturbance or rough motion; stillness
-
absence of wind
-
tranquillity
verb
Usage
What does calm mean? Calm describes something that is still or barely moving, like a pond or a lake. Calm can also describe something that is relaxed or free from excitement, as in Yolanda felt calmer after meditating for a few minutes. Calm can also be used to describe the weather. A calm day isn’t windy or stormy. In meteorology, calm is a wind speed that is less than 1 mile per hour. As a noun, calm typically describes a lack of motion or a stillness in an area where there once was motion or there will be motion. Calm can also describe a notable lack of excitement or agitation that was expected to be caused, as in Roberta believed the only way to approach a big task was with calm and patience. Finally, as a verb, to calm something or someone means to bring it to a pause. You might calm your barking dog by petting it and talking to it in a soothing voice. You might calm an angry friend by talking with them quietly and listening to what’s bothering them. Example: When you feel nervous in front of a crowd, try to look calm and you’ll soon feel calm.
Synonym Usage
Calm, collected, composed, cool imply the absence of agitation. Calm implies an unruffled state, especially under disturbing conditions: calm in a crisis. Collected implies complete inner command of oneself, usually as the result of an effort: He remained collected in spite of the excitement. One who is composed has or has gained dignified self-possession: pale but composed. Cool implies clarity of judgment along with apparent absence of strong feeling or excitement, especially in circumstances of danger or strain: so cool that he seemed calm.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
calmsimple
-
calmssimple
-
have calmedperfect
-
has calmedperfect
-
am calmingprogressive
-
are calmingprogressive
-
is calmingprogressive
-
have been calmingperfect progressive
-
has been calmingperfect progressive
Past
-
calmedsimple
-
had calmedperfect
-
was calmingprogressive
-
were calmingprogressive
-
had been calmingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of calm
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun and adjective calm(e), from Italian calma (noun), calmo (adjective), from Late Latin cauma “summer heat” (with l perhaps from Latin calēre “to be hot”), from Greek kaûma (stem kaumat- ) “burning heat”; akin to kaíein “to burn” ( see caustic); verb derivative of the noun
Explanation
Just saying the word calm reminds you of how it feels to be calm — steady, at rest, not agitated, chilled out, caaaaalllmmmm. Waters without waves? People without drama? Sounds calm. Some synonyms of the adjective calm are peaceful and even-tempered. As a verb, it describes making someone steady and still — in other words, calm. Taking a walk or calling a friend might help you calm down when you are upset. As a noun, calm is a state of peace or stillness — the calm of your neighborhood at daybreak or the calm you seek when you exercise.
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.
See Examples For:
The country's national disaster mitigation agency, known as BNPB, advised people to remain calm and stay away from coastal areas.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
But that calm may not be as reassuring as it looks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Many of these genes help control blood pressure, calm inflammation and manage the way the body processes sugar, all of which play an important role in long-term heart health.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026
Worker Akopyan, a former soldier, tried to remain outwardly calm.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
“Bat,” Mom said, “you need to stay calm around the skunk kit. Okay? You don’t want to scare him.”
From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold
She also sees an opportunity to offer a calmer experience.
From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026
“The center of social gravity has moved from the nightclub to the workout, the class and the calmer room.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
"It was perfect and much calmer 20 years ago."
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
This is why meditators report feeling both calmer and more focused.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026
Two days later, working at the clinic, beginning to feel calmer, he was approached by a former TB patient, a young woman with a baby.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
"I find my own mental state is at its calmest outside whereas at home I can be overloaded with the chaos of housework," she says.
From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2026
Jess, on loan from a friend in Scotland with a falconry center, was accustomed to people, so she was featured in Mabel’s calmest moments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 12, 2025
But the abrupt end of the calmest stretch in years rattled traders and left many betting that the swings will continue.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2025
Tesla is a silly company in stock market terms, even in the calmest of times.
From Slate ● Jul. 8, 2025
“You are all safe now,” said Roz in her calmest voice.
From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown
He even calms people that think they don’t like dogs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
"It calms me down a lot and helps me to relax a little," he said.
From Barron's ● Feb. 15, 2026
I’m more of a stresser, and he calms me down.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2026
Banks and fund managers are writing big checks for now, but many are worried about how the complicated deals being signed today will perform when the AI frenzy calms down.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 11, 2025
This calms her and makes her crazy-nervous both.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
“As soon as Friday evening rolled around, the fighting picked up, but by Sunday night and futures opening, things had calmed down.”
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 29, 2026
Fighting calmed down on Sunday as Israel asked its military to reduce combat operations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026
“We need to be more decisive; the win has calmed the nerves we’ve had over the last few days,” Mexico defender Israel Reyes said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026
"We now struggle to cross from one bank to another... People are now crossing by boat, but it is also dangerous as long as the water has not calmed down," he told AFP.
From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026
This whole thing was making me feel off balance, but I felt the familiar Chaos Cuffs on my hip and calmed down.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
"It was very calming, very emotive at the right time. There are songs on there that did really blow me away."
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
By calming excessive smooth muscle activity, it could potentially help people with diarrhea-predominant IBD.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 30, 2026
Research by Hajishengallis and another Penn professor, immunologist John Lambris, led to the development of an experimental drug applied into gum tissue, aimed at calming the immune response.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
We were laughing and it somewhat seemed calming to know to each was going thru this at the same time.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
The sand is so warm beneath me, and the ocean and salt spray and plum-colored breeze is so calming, that I tell him the story about my uncle.
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
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.
