peace

[ pees ]

/ pis /

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noun

the normal, nonwarring condition of a nation, group of nations, or the world.

(often initial capital letter) an agreement or treaty between warring or antagonistic nations, groups, etc., to end hostilities and abstain from further fighting or antagonism: the Peace of Ryswick.

a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, especially in personal relations: Try to live in peace with your neighbors.

the normal freedom from civil commotion and violence of a community; public order and security: He was arrested for being drunk and disturbing the peace.

cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension.

freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquillity; serenity.

a state of tranquillity or serenity: May he rest in peace.

a state or condition conducive to, proceeding from, or characterized by tranquillity: the peace of a mountain resort.

silence; stillness: The cawing of a crow broke the afternoon's peace.

(initial capital letter, italics) a comedy (421 b.c.) by Aristophanes.

interjection

(used to express greeting or farewell or to request quietness or silence).

verb (used without object), peaced, peac·ing.

Obsolete. to be or become silent.

OTHER WORDS FOR peace

2 armistice, truce, pact, accord.

3 rapport, concord, amity.

6 calm, quiet.

See synonyms for peace on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR peace

6 insecurity, disturbance.

See antonyms for peace on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about peace

at peace,

in a state or relationship of nonbelligerence or concord; not at war.
untroubled; tranquil; content.
deceased.

hold / keep one's peace, to refrain from or cease speaking; keep silent: He told her to hold her peace until he had finished.

keep the peace, to maintain order; cause to refrain from creating a disturbance: Several officers of the law were on hand to keep the peace.

make one's peace with, to become reconciled with: He repaired the fence he had broken and made his peace with the neighbor on whose property it stood.

make peace, to ask for or arrange a cessation of hostilities or antagonism.

Origin of peace

1125–75; Middle English pes<Old French, variant of pais<Latin pax (stem pāc-); akin to pact

OTHER WORDS FROM peace

peaceless, adjectivepeace·less·ness, nounpeacelike, adjectivenon·peace, noun

self-peace, nounsem·i·peace, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH peace

peace , piece

Words nearby peace

pea aphid, pea bean, Peabody, peabody bird, pea-brain, peace, peaceable, peace and quiet, Peace Corps, peace dividend, peaceful

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use peace in a sentence

California counties can start dealing with mail-in ballots 29 days before the election, but even if your state waits longer or doesn’t tally them until election day, it may still help your peace of mind to get it in early.
Why you should vote as early as possible (and how to do it)|John Kennedy|September 17, 2020|Popular-Science
Since 2013, police officers have issued 83 tickets against people for speech that supposedly breaches the public peace.
Morning Report: Punished for Pissing Off Police|Voice of San Diego|September 10, 2020|Voice of San Diego
The government claims they’re necessary for keeping the peace, particularly in areas like Kashmir, where there are regular outbreaks of violence.
Podcast: How a 135-year-old law lets India shutdown the internet|Anthony Green|September 2, 2020|MIT Technology Review
The first two of those for the obvious purpose of keeping the peace.
How Pseudoscientists Get Away With It - Facts So Romantic|Stuart Firestein|August 28, 2020|Nautilus

Make sure you have peace of mind at home and on the go with renters coverage from American Family Insurance.
The Big Moment: Master the Move-in|Joshua Eferighe|August 25, 2020|Ozy
Domestically, the prime minister maintains the dubious line that he is the only man who can keep the still-fragile peace.
Cambodia’s Smoke-and-Mirrors Democracy|David Shaftel|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
They called for peace, reconciliation, and the safe return of Father Gregorio.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The question is will we see regime changes in both Hamas and Israel that embrace a lasting peace?
In the Middle East, the Two-State Solution Is Dead|Dean Obeidallah|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But without any peace talks on the horizon, everyone is now left to their own devices.
In the Middle East, the Two-State Solution Is Dead|Dean Obeidallah|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
At Christianity Today, Peter Chin claims Christians should preach peace instead of bogging down in the particulars of race.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
My son,” said Grabantak one evening to Chingatok, “if we are henceforth to live in peace, why not unite and become one nation?
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
Impressed by the lugubrious scene, Aguinaldo yielded, and the next day peace negotiations were opened.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
Above all, he was amazed to hear me talk of a mercenary standing army in the midst of peace and among a free people.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
And it was no light task, then, for six hundred men to keep the peace on a thousand miles of frontier.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that hath peace in his possessions!
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various

British Dictionary definitions for peace

peace

/ (piːs) /

noun

the state existing during the absence of war
(as modifier)peace negotiations

(modifier) denoting a person or thing symbolizing support for international peacepeace women

(often capital) a treaty marking the end of a war

a state of harmony between people or groups; freedom from strife

law and order within a state; absence of violence or other disturbancea breach of the peace

absence of mental anxiety (often in the phrase peace of mind)

a state of stillness, silence, or serenity

at peace

in a state of harmony or friendship
in a state of serenity
deadthe old lady is at peace now

hold one's peace or keep one's peace to keep silent

keep the peace to maintain or refrain from disturbing law and order

make one's peace with to become reconciled with

make peace to bring hostilities to an end

verb

(intr) mainly obsolete to be or become silent or still

Word Origin for peace

C12: from Old French pais, from Latin pāx

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with peace

peace

In addition to the idiom beginning with peace

peace and quiet

also see:

at peace
hold one's tongue (peace)
keep the peace
leave someone in peace
make one's peace with
make peace

peace

OTHER WORDS FOR peace

OPPOSITES FOR peace

Idioms about peace

Origin of peace

OTHER WORDS FROM peace

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH peace

Words nearby peace

Words related to peace

How to use peace in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for peace

Word Origin for peace

Other Idioms and Phrases with peace