cease-fire

[ sees-fahyuhr ]

/ ˈsisˈfaɪər /

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See synonyms for cease-fire on Thesaurus.com

noun

a cessation of hostilities; truce.

Military. an order issued for a cease-fire.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of cease-fire

First recorded in 1840–50; noun use of verb phrase cease fire

Words nearby cease-fire

Ceará, cease, cease and desist, cease-and-desist order, ceased, cease-fire, ceaseless, Ceauşescu, Cebú, CEC, Čechy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cease-fire in a sentence

Clearly, all of the statements from Moscow and Kiev about a cease-fire for the period of the investigation have been forgotten.
Inside the Battle to Crush Ukraine’s Rebel Capital as Dutch Search for MH17 Clues|Anna Nemtsova|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He spoke to Putin on June 17 and came away offering a “unilateral cease-fire.”
Putin Is Just Getting Started in Ukraine|Michael Weiss|June 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The sanctions continued after a cease-fire; Eisenhower was adamant: They wouldn't be lifted until the invading troops were gone.
Obama’s All Eisenhower On Russia|Robert Shrum|March 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The debt ceiling vote will be something close to an acid test that this budget deal represents a cease fire in the budget wars.
Republicans Compromise on the Budget, but Don’t Expect Them To Compromise on the Debt Ceiling|Eleanor Clift|December 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST

A bloody conflict ended in a cease-fire that ceded to the militants the right to institute Sharia law in the Swat area.
Who Is Fazlullah? The Pakistani Mullah Who Targeted Malala|Michael Daly|November 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The French trenches were packed with men, waiting for the guns to cease fire and the order to advance.
The Childrens' Story of the War, Volume 4 (of 10)|James Edward Parrott
Then, with them well in hand, I let one more volley go, before shouting the "Cease fire!"
'Neath Verdun, August-October, 1914|Maurice Genevoix
It was useless to contend against such odds, and the 'cease fire' was sounded, and handkerchiefs waved to denote submission.
The Transvaal from Within|J. P. Fitzpatrick
An order to "cease fire" is given, and then there is another long interval of waiting.
Impressions of a War Correspondent|George Lynch
Paul gave the order to cease fire and took the car to the top of the avenue that led to the station.
The Woman of Mystery|Maurice Leblanc

British Dictionary definitions for cease-fire

ceasefire

/ mainly military /

noun

a period of truce, esp one that is temporary and a preliminary step to establishing a more permanent peace on agreed terms

interjection, noun

the order to stop firing

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012