peace

American  

[pees] / pis /

noun

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

2. Often Peace 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.

   Synonyms:

   accord, pact, truce, armistice

3. a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, especially in personal relations.

   Try to live in peace with your neighbors.

   Synonyms:

   amity, concord, rapport

4. 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.

5. cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension.

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

   Has therapy helped you find the peace you’ve been looking for?

   Synonyms:

   quiet, calm

   Antonyms:

   disquiet, anxiety, agitation

7. a state of tranquility or serenity.

   May he rest in peace.

8. a state or condition conducive to, proceeding from, or characterized by tranquility.

   the peace of a mountain resort.

9. silence; stillness.

   The cawing of a crow broke the afternoon's peace.

10. Peace, a comedy (421 b.c.) by Aristophanes.

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interjection

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

verb (used without object)

peaced, peacing

1. Obsolete. to be or become silent.

idioms

1. 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.

2. at peace,

   1. in a state or relationship of nonbelligerence or concord; not at war.

   2. untroubled; tranquil; content.

   3. deceased.

3. 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.

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

5. hold / keep one's peace, to refrain from or cease speaking; keep silent.

   Can you please just hold your peace until I'm done talking?

peace British  

/ piːs /

noun

1. 1. the state existing during the absence of war

   2. ( as modifier )

      peace negotiations

2. (modifier) denoting a person or thing symbolizing support for international peace

   peace women

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

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

5. law and order within a state; absence of violence or other disturbance

   a breach of the peace

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

7. a state of stillness, silence, or serenity

8. 1. in a state of harmony or friendship

   2. in a state of serenity

   3. dead

      the old lady is at peace now

9. to keep silent

10. to maintain or refrain from disturbing law and order

11. to become reconciled with

12. to bring hostilities to an end

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verb

1. obsolete (intr) to be or become silent or still

peace More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing peace

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

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Other Word Forms

• nonpeace noun
• peaceless adjective
• peacelessness noun
• peacelike adjective
• self-peace noun
• semipeace noun

Etymology

Origin of peace

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English pes, pese, pece, from Anglo-French pe(e)s, pes and Old French pais, paix, pes, from Latin pāc-, stem of pax “peace, peace treaty, amity”; pact

Example Sentences

For many survivors, finding a sense of peace in their healing journeys one year into recovery has proved difficult without closure.

From Los Angeles Times

However, he did forecast the world's second-biggest economy would reach the landmark size of $20tn this year, and said that China is "ready to work with all countries to advance world peace and development".

From BBC

“More feasible could be behind-the-scenes pressure on Denmark and Europe, potentially in combination with the ongoing Ukraine peace negotiations.”

From Barron's

“More feasible could be behind-the-scenes pressure on Denmark and Europe, potentially in combination with the ongoing Ukraine peace negotiations.”

From Barron's

“At that time, we needed something separate from the fire — something that the fire couldn’t touch, it was too traumatic to keep revisiting what we’d lost, so our work became our peace and our escape.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accord
• friendship
• love
• reconciliation
• truce
• unity