cease-fire

[ sees-fahyuh r ]

/ ˈsisˈfaɪər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cease-fire ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a cessation of hostilities; truce.

Military. an order issued for a cease-fire.

RELATED WORDS

truce, armistice

Nearby words

ceanothus, ceará, cease, cease and desist, cease-and-desist order, cease-fire, ceasefire, ceaseless, ceaselessly, ceauşescu, cebu

Origin of cease-fire

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cease-fire

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
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
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 cease-fire requires Hamas to hold its rockets and Israel to alleviate the siege.
Gaza After The Dust Settled|Kathleen Peratis|February 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Haaretz quoted a Maan news agency report that both Hamas and Islamic Jihad are committed to the Gaza cease-fire.
Thank You Iron Dome|Orly Halpern|March 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
We will work for a cease-fire now or once discussions have begun.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006|Various
His men held out until two in the afternoon, when their resistance collapsed and the cease-fire sounded.
The Fight For The Republic in China|Bertram Lenox Putnam Weale
It was two and a half hours before the "Cease-fire" whistle sounded.
With Botha in the Field|Eric Moore Ritchie
A cease-fire was achieved without a major power confrontation.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006|Various

Word Origin and History for cease-fire

cease-fire

also ceasefire, "a cessation of shooting," 1916, from verbal phrase cease fire, 1847 as a military command (formerly also signaled by bugles), from cease (v.) + fire (n.) in the gunnery sense. Generally two words until after mid-20c.

cease-fire

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of cease-fire

Examples from the Web for cease-fire

Word Origin and History for cease-fire

cease-fire