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

Under this interpretation, the law “imposes a limited, inherently temporary restriction — one which the individual can remove at any time simply by ceasing his unlawful drug use,” the administration’s attorneys told the court.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

If he ceased to be a prince and as he is no longer Duke of York, he would become Andrew Windsor.

Read more on BBC

The Australian aircraft's actions "seriously infringed upon China's sovereignty", Senior Colonel Li Jianjian, spokesperson for China's Southern Theater Command Air Force said, urging Canberra to "immediately cease its infringing and provocative actions".

Read more on BBC

The two companies agreed to a settlement in July, and Chubby has ceased operations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He will also cease to be the Duke of York, a title received from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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