cease

[sees]

verb (used without object)

ceased, ceasing 

1. to stop; discontinue.

   Not all medieval beliefs have ceased to exist.

   Antonyms: begin

2. to come to an end.

   At last the war has ceased.

   Synonyms: culminate, end, terminate
   Antonyms: begin

3. Obsolete.,  to pass away; die out.

verb (used with object)

ceased, ceasing 

1. to put a stop or end to; discontinue.

   He begged them to cease their quarreling.

noun

1. cessation.

   The noise of the drilling went on for hours without cease.

cease

/ siːs /

verb

1. to bring or come to an end; desist from; stop

noun

1. without stopping; incessantly

Word History and Origins

Origin of cease¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English ces(s)en, from Old French cesser, from Latin cessāre “to leave off,” equivalent to cess(us) (past participle of cēdere “to withdraw, go”; cede

Word History and Origins

Origin of cease¹

C14: from Old French cesser, from Latin cessāre, frequentative of cēdere to yield, _cede

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. never cease to amaze. never cease to amaze.

More idioms and phrases containing cease

• wonders will never cease

Example Sentences

The Jersey-based operator, which employed about 100 staff, announced on Friday it had ceased trading and cancelled all bookings.

Read more on BBC

Security forces have surrounded the area, though skirmishes have not yet ceased.

Read more on Barron's

About 30 million sheep inhabit Britain’s pastures, but its vast network of hand-built, dry-stone walls—there are 20,000 miles of them in Yorkshire alone—ceased to require upkeep after the invention of electric fences.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Their complicity is documented here to hold these states accountable. These states must address their role in the genocide and cease their complicity."

Read more on Barron's

“As new states legalize online sports betting, FanDuel will cease offering sports event contracts in those states,” FanDuel’s Wednesday press release said.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• break off 
• desist 
• discontinue 
• fail 
• halt 
• quit 
• refrain 
• terminate