calm1 adjectivecalm2 nouncalm3 verb
calmcalm1 /kɑːm $ kɑːm, kɑːlm/ ●●● S3 W3 adjective (comparative calmer, superlative calmest) 
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- After yesterday's fighting, the region is now calm again.
- Everyone praised Douglas for the calm way in which he handled the situation.
- He has such a calm soothing voice - I could listen to him all night.
- His mother was a calm, slow-speaking woman.
- I was trying to sound calm even though I was very upset.
- It was a calm, clear, beautiful day.
- Joe is a very calm and competent flying instructor.
- Keep calm and try not to panic.
- My sister was always calm and careful, whereas I would get excited and upset by the slightest thing.
- Once on board, you can relax in calm, comfortable surroundings.
- The night was calm and warm.
- The sea was dead calm.
- Baldwin's main role was to keep his colleagues and the country as calm as possible.
- Even when Peter began, the sky was pale, the winds were calm, and the air was temperate.
- He is a Sikh, a religious man, very calm, kind.
- His eyes, which, moments earlier, had been filled with fear and horror, were now clear, almost calm.
- Hugh remained calm at the wheel, driving with the window open.
- Inside the reef, on calmer waters, the boy gratefully nodded off to sleep, exhausted by his ordeal.
- It created a picture of calm silent menace.
- So far, the menswear shows have had an air of calm rationality.
THESAURUS
not getting angry, nervous, or upset, even in a difficult situation: · We’ll talk about this later when you’re feeling calmer.· Everyone praised Douglas for the calm way in which he handled the situation.
not worried about anything, especially so that people feel comfortable: · Looking relaxed and confident, the president answered questions from the press.· There was a relaxed atmosphere.
(also chilled) informal very relaxed and not worried – used especially by young people: · I’m much more chilled-out about the whole thing this year.
informal someone who is laid-back is always relaxed and never seems to get worried or annoyed about anything: · I like his laid-back attitude to life.· My parents are pretty laid-back and don’t mind me staying out late.
informal relaxed, friendly, and happy, especially after drinking alcohol: · After a few drinks, everyone was pretty mellow.
informal staying calm and not showing your emotions, especially when other people are getting excited or angry: · He is the kind of player who always manages to stay cool, even under pressure.· She was as cool as a cucumber (=very cool).
to manage to stay calm and behave in a sensible way in a difficult or frightening situation: · In this job you need to be good at keeping your head in a crisis.
Longman Language Activatorcalm in a difficult situation not getting angry or upset, even in a difficult situation: · I was trying to sound calm even though I was very upset.· Everyone praised Douglas for the calm way in which he handled the situation.keep/stay calm: · Keep calm and try not to panic.
to stay calm and not show your emotions, especially when other people are getting excited or angry: · Sampras is the kind of player who always manages to stay cool, even under pressure.keep your cool (=not become angry): · He managed to keep his cool and ignore her last comments.
to manage to stay calm and to behave in a sensible way when something is likely to make you feel frightened or worried: · Paul's good at keeping his head in a crisis.· They were looking for a coach who could stay enthusiastic and keep his head at the same time.
in control of your emotions so that you look and feel calm in a difficult or upsetting situation: · I could see that she was angry but trying to remain composed.· It was several minutes before he felt composed enough to speak to anyone.
the ability to stay calm that makes someone able to do the right thing immediately even in a dangerous or difficult situation: · His presence of mind prevented a serious accident.presence of mind to do something: · I'm still amazed that a terrified 19-year-old would have the presence of mind to reason with her kidnapper.
informal calm in a difficult situation, especially one in which someone is trying to confuse or upset you: · Barton seemed unfazed by the accusations of corruption.· A few traders are concerned by the recent drop in the stock market, but most are not fazed.
able to behave sensibly, think clearly, and remain calm, even in a difficult situation: · A good pilot needs to be calm and level-headed.· He had a level-headed approach to financial matters.
usually calm always sensible and relaxed, rather than getting angry, excited, or upset in a difficult situation: · Joe is a very calm and competent flying instructor.· My sister was always calm and careful, whereas I would get excited and upset by the slightest thing.· He has such a calm soothing voice - I could listen to him all night.
someone who is relaxed is calm and does not seem to be worried about anything, and it is pleasant for other people to be with them: · George greeted us in his friendly relaxed way.· You seem much more relaxed since you changed jobs.
informal always relaxed and never seeming to worry about things that other people worry about: · Sue's always had a laid-back attitude toward life.· He's very laid-back and lets the kids do whatever they want.
always calm and satisfied and not often getting upset, angry, excited etc about anything: · She's a sweet, placid child who rarely gets upset or angry.· There was a worried look on her normally placid face.
to become calm to become calm again after you have been angry or upset: · I waited for him to calm down before I said anything.· He sat down and exhaled slowly, trying to calm down.
to calm down after you have been very angry: · Leave her alone until she cools down a bit.· I think you should both cool off, and maybe then you can sit down and discuss it rationally.
to deliberately make yourself look and feel calm after you have been upset: · She took several deep breaths to compose herself before going downstairs.· He waited a moment outside the door so that Philip would have time to compose himself.
especially British if you do something, especially have an alcoholic drink, to steady your nerves , you do it to make yourself calm: · They finally found him in the bar, where he had gone to steady his nerves.
to make someone calmer to make someone calm, especially after they have suddenly become angry or excited: calm somebody down: · Lois spent about an hour trying to calm him down.· I laid my hands on her shoulders to calm her down, but she pushed me away.calm down somebody: · The coach called a time-out to calm down the players.
to make someone calm when they are worried and upset: · We were all very concerned and did our best to calm her.· His lawyer's assurances that he would be found not guilty did little to calm him.
what you say to someone when you want them to be calm spoken say this when someone is angry, upset, or excited and you want them to think calmly or speak calmly again: · Calm down! Everything's going to be OK.· If you don't calm down, Mom's going to know something's wrong.
spoken say this to someone who is worried or frightened about something, in order to stop them worrying: · Relax! This won't hurt at all.· You can relax now - it's all over.
spoken informal say this when someone is angry or upset, and you want to stop them saying or doing anything stupid: · Hey, take it easy! Nobody's saying you're not good at your job.
spoken say this to someone to make them stop being worried: · It's okay, Chris, he's gone now.· It's all right, don't cry, Mummy's here.
spoken informal say this when someone is getting very nervous or worried, especially in a way that is annoying or unreasonable, and you want them to be calm - used especially by young people: · OK, it's all right - just chill out!· Just chill for a second - I'll figure something out.
not moving not moving - use this especially about people who are not moving, or about places where there is no wind: · There was no wind and the trees were completely still.still water: · Anna looked out across the still waters of the lake.keep/stand/sit still: · Keep still while I tie your shoes.· Percy was so thrilled he could hardly sit still.
: stationary car/vehicle/truck/traffic a car, vehicle etc that is not moving: · The truck swerved and hit a stationary vehicle.· a four-mile queue of stationary traffic
if traffic is at a standstill it is not moving. If rail or bus services are at a standstill they have stopped operating: · Traffic was at a standstill on the motorway.bring something to a standstill (=make it stop moving or operating): · A severe storm brought rail services to a standstill yesterday.
not moving because there is no wind: dead calm (=completely calm): · The sea was dead calm.calm night/evening etc: · The night was calm and warm.· It was a calm, clear, beautiful day.
completely still - used especially in literature: · Four motionless figures stood on the pier.stand/sit/remain motionless: · I could see my father standing motionless in the doorway.· Kemp sat motionless as the verdict was read.
not moving or not able to move, especially because of fear or tiredness: · Brigg was immobile, his eyes fixed on the horizon.immobile with: · I stood there, immobile with terror.
to be unable to move from the place where you are standing or sitting because you are very frightened, surprised, or interested by something that is happening: be glued to the TV/your chair etc: · Dad was glued to the TV all day long.· We were glued to our chairs and listening intently to every word.be glued/rooted to the spot: · I was rooted to the spot, unable to take my eyes off the strange creature.
to be completely still, especially because you are frightened or because you do not want someone to see you: · She hid behind the door, not moving a muscle.· I didn't dare move a muscle. He would have shot me.
peaceful if a place or situation is peaceful, it makes you feel calm and relaxed because there is no unpleasant noise or activity: · Langcliffe is a peaceful little village.· It's so nice and peaceful here.· After a career as a journalist, she was looking forward to a happy and peaceful retirement.
if a place is calm, there is no violence or excited activity there, especially after a period when there has been violence or excitement: · After yesterday's fighting, the region is now calm again.· Once on board, you can relax in calm, comfortable surroundings.
a quiet place or time is one without much activity, noise, or excitement, or without many people: · Since the last big outbreak of fighting six days ago, the city has been strangely quiet.· The roads are usually pretty quiet at this time of day.a quiet night/evening in (=an evening at home, rather than going out): · Let's have a nice quiet evening in, for a change.a quiet life: · While he liked to go out partying, she wanted a quiet life.
a sleepy town or village is a quiet, peaceful one, where there is very little to do and exciting things do not usually happen: · Ten years ago, this was a sleepy fishing village.· She headed for the High Street, the only lively spot in the sleepy little town.
a place that is tranquil is pleasantly quiet and makes you feel relaxed: · In summer, the normally calm, tranquil streets fill with crowds of tourists.· Efforts are being made to make life more tranquil in Japan's noisy and overcrowded cities.
a restful time or place is a quiet and relaxing one: · I'm looking forward to a quiet, restful summer vacation.· Her suite of rooms was cool and restful.· He woke after a long, restful sleep, feeling refreshed.
without wind, movement, or noise: · It was a long, hot, still September afternoon.· Everything was very still inside the little chapel. Nothing broke the silence.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
I tried to stay calm and just ignore him. The seas were dead calm.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES She wanted to arrive feeling cool, calm, and collected. Outwardly she is cool, calm, and collected. In the middle of the city, this garden is a haven of tranquillity. I was struggling to keep awake. The park was an oasis of peace. Traffic calming measures have been introduced.
I tried to stay calm and just ignore him. The seas were dead calm. She wanted to arrive feeling cool, calm, and collected. Outwardly she is cool, calm, and collected.· The room was dead quiet while we waited for Ted to reply.
(=one that makes you feel less angry, excited, or nervous)· His words seemed to have a calming effect on the crowd.
In the middle of the city, this garden is a haven of tranquillity.· The music seemed to have a calming influence.
I was struggling to keep awake. (=make someone feel less worried or nervous)· She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves.
The park was an oasis of peace.· The sea was perfectly calm.
Traffic calming measures have been introduced.· Things seemed quiet enough, but it was an uneasy calm.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Baldwin's main role was to keep his colleagues and the country as calm as possible.· Jody is as calm as anyone has ever seen her at halftime.· The city spread out below her looked so calm, almost as calm as she had felt such a little time before.· Keep as calm as possible, and follow the suggestions in this chapter.· Noah Plunkett was as calm as though they were discussing the state of the weather.· Eisenhower, appearing as calm as ever, shrugged off what had not long before loomed as a crisis.· Just the same, off he went, as calm as could be, and so the theft remained undetected.· He was as calm and collected as any veteran on the ground.
· But once she'd explained I felt much calmer.· He was suddenly much calmer, coldly aware of his true position.· Every day ... I will become emotionally much calmer ... much more settled ... much less easily disturbed.· Though evidently representing the same individual, the head was much calmer than that of the agitated portrait of the previous decade.· The Prime Minister greeted the day in a much calmer mood than he had forty-eight hours before.
· She'd even felt quite calm, only thinking that in the oven his dinner would be in cinders now.· Previously no wave would have reached that high except in a gale, and that night the sea had been quite calm.· She was quite calm and told me to get a watch and try and time how far apart the pains were.· Until opposition forces started fighting again, the situation was quite calm.· I felt quite calm, though I could neither eat nor drink.· Kelly felt quite calm as she entered the large committee room.· She was quite calm and serious and, for reasons of her own, she intended to bury the jewel box.
· The city spread out below her looked so calm, almost as calm as she had felt such a little time before.· In some one so calm, the effect was eerie.· How could Ace stay so calm?· Michael stared up, wondering how Peter could be so calm.· His manner: so calm, so kind, so on top of things.· It was so calm, so secure.· No wonder he is so calm.· No wonder I had felt so calm.
· It looked very calm and peaceful.· He is a Sikh, a religious man, very calm, kind.· I became very calm and immediately went into a deep sleep.· He felt aged and weary but very calm.· She became very calm and serene.
NOUN· At least, I thought grimly, it was a calm day.· It was a calm day, Mr Dove.· On a calm day there will be no waves breaking over Bogha nan Ramfhear to indicate its presence.· Try to sober down and forget your fears as there are calmer days ahead.· It was a cold calm day with no wind.· On calm days people dived to inspect the bottom contours.· On a calm day, it can register a pressure difference across the thickness of the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics.
· So you see, beneath that calm exterior lies a highly unstable child.· With her soft voice and her calm exterior, she absolutely would not let creditors off the hook.
· Neil Croll, Allestree, Derby I saw an upside-down rainbow caused by the reflection of the sun on a calm sea.· De Macon's ship went to Brittany and back, the voyage helped by fair winds and calm seas.· I was deeply thankful that the accident had occurred on a sunny day and with a calm sea.· He wrote of the calm sea at St Malo, the pink sky, the sweet air.· Large swell waves may be present with an absolutely calm sea or even with light offshore winds in the opposite direction.· Gently rocked by the smooth, rhythmic action of the calm sea, she gazed up at the sky above.· Only the murmur of ships' engines and swish of bows cutting the tide could be heard across the calm sea.
· He heard the calm voice, but could feel the trembling body which gave it the lie.· The calm voice waited on the tapes, and my grief was ambiguous.· When they tapped at Dora's bedroom door, a calm voice invited them to enter.· Myles began to talk in a slow calm voice.· Wilko then replies in a calm voice with what hes said.
· The overall effect is that the main swell of the ocean is broken, leaving calmer water inside.· She drifted helplessly along in calm water at just over three knots, making it virtually impossible to assess her sailing characteristics.· But the ship stood almost stationary, in calm water just inside the mouth of a fiord.· For instance, blue conveys a sense of calm and tranquility because we associate the colour with blue skies, calm water.· It's always the same - each time you dive, you find clear, calm water.· There will be calmer water at intervals along the way.· Slowly they began to feel the protection of Grumbla Head and within half-an-hour they had entered relatively calm water.
· The last time I visited Strathbeg, I counted eighty elegant swans, floating galleon-like on calm waters.· Inside the reef, on calmer waters, the boy gratefully nodded off to sleep, exhausted by his ordeal.· Here seals may be seen bobbing in the calm waters.· She sat quietly, however, until the music found its way into calmer waters and then came to an end.· He also taught girls to swim in the calm waters of the Swider River.· The forecast is good, light winds and calm waters.· Two of us have chosen to sail in the calmer waters of librarianship.
· All he needs is 13 hours of calm weather.· Wildlife experts fear the calm weather may return too late to save them.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► bold/calm/cool etc as you please
- Beneath his highly cool exterior he was anguished and distraught.
- It all added up to the fact that below Silas's cool exterior there was warmth and compassion for others.
- So you see, beneath that calm exterior lies a highly unstable child.
- There is little or no hint of the compassion and humanity which lay beneath the cool exterior.
- With her soft voice and her calm exterior, she absolutely would not let creditors off the hook.
WORD FAMILYnouncalmcalmnessadjectivecalmverbcalmadverbcalmly
1relaxed and quiet, not angry, nervous, or upset: Glen was calm and composed at the funeral.remain/stay/keep calm I tried to stay calm and just ignore him.2if a place, period of time, or situation is calm, there is less activity, trouble etc than there sometimes is, or than there has been recently: The financial markets are calm at the moment. The streets are calm again after last night’s disturbances.3a sea, lake etc that is calm is smooth or has only gentle waves: The seas were dead calm.—calmly adverb—calmness noun [uncountable]THESAURUScalm not getting angry, nervous, or upset, even in a difficult situation: · We’ll talk about this later when you’re feeling calmer.· Everyone praised Douglas for the calm way in which he handled the situation.relaxed not worried about anything, especially so that people feel comfortable: · Looking relaxed and confident, the president answered questions from the press.· There was a relaxed atmosphere.chilled-out (also chilled) informal very relaxed and not worried – used especially by young people: · I’m much more chilled-out about the whole thing this year.laid-back informal someone who is laid-back is always relaxed and never seems to get worried or annoyed about anything: · I like his laid-back attitude to life.· My parents are pretty laid-back and don’t mind me staying out late.mellow informal relaxed, friendly, and happy, especially after drinking alcohol: · After a few drinks, everyone was pretty mellow.cool informal staying calm and not showing your emotions, especially when other people are getting excited or angry: · He is the kind of player who always manages to stay cool, even under pressure.· She was as cool as a cucumber (=very cool).keep your head to manage to stay calm and behave in a sensible way in a difficult or frightening situation: · In this job you need to be good at keeping your head in a crisis.calm1 adjectivecalm2 nouncalm3 verb
calmcalm2 ●●○ noun [singular, uncountable] WORD ORIGINcalm2
Origin:
1300-1400 Old French calme, from Late Latin cauma ‘heat’; because everything is quiet and still in the heat of the middle part of the dayEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- By October 17th, the police had managed to restore calm.
- Inside the new gallery, there is an atmosphere of calm.
- The Prime Minister visited the centre of the rioting and called for calm.
- We sat on the patio, enjoying the calm of the evening.
- What we need now is a period of calm and stability.
- Despite the excitement Wednesday, Chu reacted with what may be near-record calm.
- What they amount to is an appeal for calm.
THESAURUS
a situation in which there is no war or fighting: · There has been peace in the region for six years now.
an agreement to stop fighting or arguing with each other for a limited period of time: · The rebels have ended a 17-month-old truce.· He called for a truce between Israeli and Palestinian forces.· There was an uneasy truce between Lily and Stephen at dinner.
an agreement to stop fighting for a limited period of time, especially in order to discuss making peace: · The two sides agreed to a ceasefire which would come into force immediately.
a formal agreement to stop fighting a war and to discuss making peace: · The Korean armistice was signed in July 1953.
a situation in which there is no violence, argument, or protest: · Attempts by the police to restore calm in the area failed.
Longman Language Activatorcalm in a difficult situation not getting angry or upset, even in a difficult situation: · I was trying to sound calm even though I was very upset.· Everyone praised Douglas for the calm way in which he handled the situation.keep/stay calm: · Keep calm and try not to panic.
to stay calm and not show your emotions, especially when other people are getting excited or angry: · Sampras is the kind of player who always manages to stay cool, even under pressure.keep your cool (=not become angry): · He managed to keep his cool and ignore her last comments.
to manage to stay calm and to behave in a sensible way when something is likely to make you feel frightened or worried: · Paul's good at keeping his head in a crisis.· They were looking for a coach who could stay enthusiastic and keep his head at the same time.
in control of your emotions so that you look and feel calm in a difficult or upsetting situation: · I could see that she was angry but trying to remain composed.· It was several minutes before he felt composed enough to speak to anyone.
the ability to stay calm that makes someone able to do the right thing immediately even in a dangerous or difficult situation: · His presence of mind prevented a serious accident.presence of mind to do something: · I'm still amazed that a terrified 19-year-old would have the presence of mind to reason with her kidnapper.
informal calm in a difficult situation, especially one in which someone is trying to confuse or upset you: · Barton seemed unfazed by the accusations of corruption.· A few traders are concerned by the recent drop in the stock market, but most are not fazed.
able to behave sensibly, think clearly, and remain calm, even in a difficult situation: · A good pilot needs to be calm and level-headed.· He had a level-headed approach to financial matters.
usually calm always sensible and relaxed, rather than getting angry, excited, or upset in a difficult situation: · Joe is a very calm and competent flying instructor.· My sister was always calm and careful, whereas I would get excited and upset by the slightest thing.· He has such a calm soothing voice - I could listen to him all night.
someone who is relaxed is calm and does not seem to be worried about anything, and it is pleasant for other people to be with them: · George greeted us in his friendly relaxed way.· You seem much more relaxed since you changed jobs.
informal always relaxed and never seeming to worry about things that other people worry about: · Sue's always had a laid-back attitude toward life.· He's very laid-back and lets the kids do whatever they want.
always calm and satisfied and not often getting upset, angry, excited etc about anything: · She's a sweet, placid child who rarely gets upset or angry.· There was a worried look on her normally placid face.
to become calm to become calm again after you have been angry or upset: · I waited for him to calm down before I said anything.· He sat down and exhaled slowly, trying to calm down.
to calm down after you have been very angry: · Leave her alone until she cools down a bit.· I think you should both cool off, and maybe then you can sit down and discuss it rationally.
to deliberately make yourself look and feel calm after you have been upset: · She took several deep breaths to compose herself before going downstairs.· He waited a moment outside the door so that Philip would have time to compose himself.
especially British if you do something, especially have an alcoholic drink, to steady your nerves , you do it to make yourself calm: · They finally found him in the bar, where he had gone to steady his nerves.
to make someone calmer to make someone calm, especially after they have suddenly become angry or excited: calm somebody down: · Lois spent about an hour trying to calm him down.· I laid my hands on her shoulders to calm her down, but she pushed me away.calm down somebody: · The coach called a time-out to calm down the players.
to make someone calm when they are worried and upset: · We were all very concerned and did our best to calm her.· His lawyer's assurances that he would be found not guilty did little to calm him.
what you say to someone when you want them to be calm spoken say this when someone is angry, upset, or excited and you want them to think calmly or speak calmly again: · Calm down! Everything's going to be OK.· If you don't calm down, Mom's going to know something's wrong.
spoken say this to someone who is worried or frightened about something, in order to stop them worrying: · Relax! This won't hurt at all.· You can relax now - it's all over.
spoken informal say this when someone is angry or upset, and you want to stop them saying or doing anything stupid: · Hey, take it easy! Nobody's saying you're not good at your job.
spoken say this to someone to make them stop being worried: · It's okay, Chris, he's gone now.· It's all right, don't cry, Mummy's here.
spoken informal say this when someone is getting very nervous or worried, especially in a way that is annoying or unreasonable, and you want them to be calm - used especially by young people: · OK, it's all right - just chill out!· Just chill for a second - I'll figure something out.
a peaceful state or situation a peaceful situation with no unpleasant noise or interruptions: · Top footballer Bobby Mimms loves coming back to the peace of his home village in North Yorkshire.· Residents say that the new development would shatter the peace of their area.peace and quiet: · They've gone to the countryside for some peace and quiet.do something in peace (=do something without being interrupted): · Now go away and let me get on with my work in peace.
a situation in which there is no noise, anxious activity, or violence: · What we need now is a period of calm and stability.an atmosphere/sense of calm: · Inside the new gallery, there is an atmosphere of calm.appeal/call for calm: · The Prime Minister visited the centre of the rioting and called for calm.restore calm: · By October 17th, the police had managed to restore calm.
British /tranquility American a pleasantly peaceful situation, especially one in which nothing seems to change: · Nothing ever happens to disturb the tranquillity of this little town, hidden in the Tuscan hills.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY A scream shattered the late afternoon calm. Hindu leaders appealed for calm (=asked that the public stay calm) after a temple was burnt to the ground. The presence of soldiers helped restore calm. The last five years have seen a period of relative calm.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES She wanted to arrive feeling cool, calm, and collected. Outwardly she is cool, calm, and collected. In the middle of the city, this garden is a haven of tranquillity. I was struggling to keep awake. The park was an oasis of peace. Traffic calming measures have been introduced.
A scream shattered the late afternoon calm. Hindu leaders appealed for calm (=asked that the public stay calm) after a temple was burnt to the ground. The presence of soldiers helped restore calm. The last five years have seen a period of relative calm. She wanted to arrive feeling cool, calm, and collected. Outwardly she is cool, calm, and collected.· The room was dead quiet while we waited for Ted to reply.
(=one that makes you feel less angry, excited, or nervous)· His words seemed to have a calming effect on the crowd.
In the middle of the city, this garden is a haven of tranquillity.· The music seemed to have a calming influence.
I was struggling to keep awake. (=make someone feel less worried or nervous)· She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves.
The park was an oasis of peace.· The sea was perfectly calm.
Traffic calming measures have been introduced.· Things seemed quiet enough, but it was an uneasy calm.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· The leaked Pinochet medical file turns out to be cool and calm.· It had been an exceptional run, fine days, cool and calm, and crisp but clear nights.· Appearing cool and calm would be difficult, but it was the only way to deal with this man.· Vashti McKenzie, looking cool and calm in a royal blue Africaninspired two-piece dress that swept the floor.
· She sounded frank, dead calm.
· Our path dropped down to the relative calm of the sea shore, edging craggy inlets beneath overhanging cliff tops.· The relative calm before this convention is almost eerie.· Yet by comparison with the fate of most people in Caxias, this is a haven of relative calm and well-being.· But as the period of relative calm continued, it seemed to last an eternity.· The scent-sensitive Lepidoptera are thus associated with the strongly-scented flowers in the relative calm there.· The history of many colleges can be seen as periods of conflict and confrontation alternating with periods of consolidation and relative calm.
VERB· He is resting on his knees and appears calm.· As he left the courtroom, Franco appeared calm, smiling and chatting with Teich and his interpreter.
· Having eaten, I felt refreshed and calm as I got into bed.· Regardless of when you call, our representatives will be courteous and calm-so you can feel calm, too.· Now the die was cast he felt a certain calm.· Some people find uncontrollable tears welling up, yet they may feel wonderfully relaxed and calm after the massage.· As I stood on the tee, I felt a terrific calm, but a controlled excitement, too.· I felt pleasantly tired, calm, and strangely satisfied.
· Stay calm and keep the child calm: panic speeds poison absorption.· In spite of everything, he had managed to keep Virginia Stillman calm.· During practice the beginner should try to keep his mind calm and peaceful.· Fate drove so that Glover could sit in the back and keep Lucky calm.· Some ways of keeping the discussion calm and rational: The Chair should be firm in not allowing people to interrupt each other.· The only one who kept calm was the commander, who helped me and the others out, fearing a secondary explosion.· He bought her a soda, tried to talk to her, kept her calm.· Lugar spent his eight years as mayor trying to keep his city calm when others were burning.
· The latter part of the year looks the most promising, so remain calm earlier.· She remained serene and calm with no need for the pain medication until the next afternoon when she died in her sleep.· Whilst Jansher remained calm and serene, I was sweating profusely.· We women look on, we appraise, we scrutinize, we admire, we try to remain calm.· Reformist leaders have told the public to remain calm to deprive hardliners in the security forces of any pretext for violent action.· I said, trying to remain calm despite my growing irritation with him.· When her labor was difficult, the doula consistently remained calm and caring.
· Although some black groups called for a boycott of the curfew, it had the effect of restoring an uneasy calm.· A policeman may be able to restore the public calm without having to resort to an arrest.· Attempts by the Czech police to restore calm to the streets of Prague following the protests were thwarted.
· He gained experience and developed skills in staying calm in the face of abuse, working under pressure and organising his time.· He told himself to stay calm.· William I know, I know-but... just-let's stay calm.· Trying to stay calm, he crept up on the statue.· Act calm - stay calm One successful method of mastering nerves is to act the way you would like to feel.· Or like saying stay calm or cheer up.· What do you do? Stay calm.· Not many players would have stayed calm during the making of that eight, and certainly not after it.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► bold/calm/cool etc as you please
- Charity should have recognised it as the calm before the storm, but she didn't.
- Beneath his highly cool exterior he was anguished and distraught.
- It all added up to the fact that below Silas's cool exterior there was warmth and compassion for others.
- So you see, beneath that calm exterior lies a highly unstable child.
- There is little or no hint of the compassion and humanity which lay beneath the cool exterior.
- With her soft voice and her calm exterior, she absolutely would not let creditors off the hook.
WORD FAMILYnouncalmcalmnessadjectivecalmverbcalmadverbcalmly
1a situation or time that is quiet and peacefulcalm of They remained on the terrace after dinner, enjoying the calm of the evening.morning/afternoon/evening calm A scream shattered the late afternoon calm. Hindu leaders appealed for calm (=asked that the public stay calm) after a temple was burnt to the ground. The presence of soldiers helped restore calm. The last five years have seen a period of relative calm.2the calm before the storm a calm peaceful situation that will not continue because a big argument, problem etc is comingcalm1 adjectivecalm2 nouncalm3 verb
calmcalm3 ●●○ (also calm down) verb [intransitive, transitive] VERB TABLE
calm
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | calm |
| he, she, it | calms | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | calmed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have calmed |
| he, she, it | has calmed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had calmed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will calm |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have calmed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am calming |
| he, she, it | is calming | |
| you, we, they | are calming | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was calming |
| you, we, they | were calming | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been calming |
| he, she, it | has been calming | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been calming |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be calming |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been calming |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Calm down, Morgan! Stop jumping around.
- His lawyer's assurances that he would be found not guilty did little to calm him.
- I waited until I'd calmed down a little, then went to talk to her.
- We were all very concerned and did our best to calm her.
- Alan spends the rest of the conversation calming her down, explaining options to her.
- By this time Melissa's temper had calmed and her curiosity revived.
- He calmed down but continued to shiver with anticipation as I slipped on my shoes.
- It's more important right now to calm down.
- Leant back on my dressing table to calm down, clutched the handles.
- She went past displays of posters and stills for upcoming films, gradually calming herself.
THESAURUSnot moving
not moving – use this especially about people who are not moving, or about places where there is no wind: · There was no wind and the trees were completely still.· Keep still while I tie your shoes.
not moving – use this about cars, trains, or objects: · The truck swerved and hit a stationary vehicle.
not moving or not able to move, especially because of fear or tiredness: · As the disease progressed, she became increasingly immobile.
completely still – used especially in literature: · Kemp sat motionless as the verdict was read.
not moving because there is no wind – use this about air and water: · The lake was calm.
if traffic is at a standstill it is not moving: · Traffic was at a standstill on the motorway.
Longman Language Activatorcalm in a difficult situation not getting angry or upset, even in a difficult situation: · I was trying to sound calm even though I was very upset.· Everyone praised Douglas for the calm way in which he handled the situation.keep/stay calm: · Keep calm and try not to panic.
to stay calm and not show your emotions, especially when other people are getting excited or angry: · Sampras is the kind of player who always manages to stay cool, even under pressure.keep your cool (=not become angry): · He managed to keep his cool and ignore her last comments.
to manage to stay calm and to behave in a sensible way when something is likely to make you feel frightened or worried: · Paul's good at keeping his head in a crisis.· They were looking for a coach who could stay enthusiastic and keep his head at the same time.
in control of your emotions so that you look and feel calm in a difficult or upsetting situation: · I could see that she was angry but trying to remain composed.· It was several minutes before he felt composed enough to speak to anyone.
the ability to stay calm that makes someone able to do the right thing immediately even in a dangerous or difficult situation: · His presence of mind prevented a serious accident.presence of mind to do something: · I'm still amazed that a terrified 19-year-old would have the presence of mind to reason with her kidnapper.
informal calm in a difficult situation, especially one in which someone is trying to confuse or upset you: · Barton seemed unfazed by the accusations of corruption.· A few traders are concerned by the recent drop in the stock market, but most are not fazed.
able to behave sensibly, think clearly, and remain calm, even in a difficult situation: · A good pilot needs to be calm and level-headed.· He had a level-headed approach to financial matters.
usually calm always sensible and relaxed, rather than getting angry, excited, or upset in a difficult situation: · Joe is a very calm and competent flying instructor.· My sister was always calm and careful, whereas I would get excited and upset by the slightest thing.· He has such a calm soothing voice - I could listen to him all night.
someone who is relaxed is calm and does not seem to be worried about anything, and it is pleasant for other people to be with them: · George greeted us in his friendly relaxed way.· You seem much more relaxed since you changed jobs.
informal always relaxed and never seeming to worry about things that other people worry about: · Sue's always had a laid-back attitude toward life.· He's very laid-back and lets the kids do whatever they want.
always calm and satisfied and not often getting upset, angry, excited etc about anything: · She's a sweet, placid child who rarely gets upset or angry.· There was a worried look on her normally placid face.
to become calm to become calm again after you have been angry or upset: · I waited for him to calm down before I said anything.· He sat down and exhaled slowly, trying to calm down.
to calm down after you have been very angry: · Leave her alone until she cools down a bit.· I think you should both cool off, and maybe then you can sit down and discuss it rationally.
to deliberately make yourself look and feel calm after you have been upset: · She took several deep breaths to compose herself before going downstairs.· He waited a moment outside the door so that Philip would have time to compose himself.
especially British if you do something, especially have an alcoholic drink, to steady your nerves , you do it to make yourself calm: · They finally found him in the bar, where he had gone to steady his nerves.
to make someone calmer to make someone calm, especially after they have suddenly become angry or excited: calm somebody down: · Lois spent about an hour trying to calm him down.· I laid my hands on her shoulders to calm her down, but she pushed me away.calm down somebody: · The coach called a time-out to calm down the players.
to make someone calm when they are worried and upset: · We were all very concerned and did our best to calm her.· His lawyer's assurances that he would be found not guilty did little to calm him.
what you say to someone when you want them to be calm spoken say this when someone is angry, upset, or excited and you want them to think calmly or speak calmly again: · Calm down! Everything's going to be OK.· If you don't calm down, Mom's going to know something's wrong.
spoken say this to someone who is worried or frightened about something, in order to stop them worrying: · Relax! This won't hurt at all.· You can relax now - it's all over.
spoken informal say this when someone is angry or upset, and you want to stop them saying or doing anything stupid: · Hey, take it easy! Nobody's saying you're not good at your job.
spoken say this to someone to make them stop being worried: · It's okay, Chris, he's gone now.· It's all right, don't cry, Mummy's here.
spoken informal say this when someone is getting very nervous or worried, especially in a way that is annoying or unreasonable, and you want them to be calm - used especially by young people: · OK, it's all right - just chill out!· Just chill for a second - I'll figure something out.
to try to make someone less angry to make someone less angry and more calm: · It was no use trying to pacify him; he was simply too upset.· As I drove home, I tried to think how I was going to pacify my wife, who was sure to be angry.
to make someone less angry and upset when they have been very angry or upset: · They had to use drugs to calm him down.· When he was really upset, only his wife could calm him down.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY We tried to calm people’s fears. It took months for things to calm down after we had the baby.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES She wanted to arrive feeling cool, calm, and collected. Outwardly she is cool, calm, and collected. In the middle of the city, this garden is a haven of tranquillity. I was struggling to keep awake. The park was an oasis of peace. Traffic calming measures have been introduced.
We tried to calm people’s fears. It took months for things to calm down after we had the baby. She wanted to arrive feeling cool, calm, and collected. Outwardly she is cool, calm, and collected.· The room was dead quiet while we waited for Ted to reply.
(=one that makes you feel less angry, excited, or nervous)· His words seemed to have a calming effect on the crowd.
In the middle of the city, this garden is a haven of tranquillity.· The music seemed to have a calming influence.
I was struggling to keep awake. (=make someone feel less worried or nervous)· She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves.
The park was an oasis of peace.· The sea was perfectly calm.
Traffic calming measures have been introduced.· Things seemed quiet enough, but it was an uneasy calm.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· It is to everybody's advantage that Mr Mugabe calm down.· My heart would not calm down.· Yo, yo. Calm down.· Very slowly Jessamy began to calm down just a little.· She lit a cigarette and closed her eyes. Calm down.· Set his Alsatians on me ... He won't. Calm down.· Then I calmed down and asked a safe-looking lady with children to show me the way to the bus station.
NOUN· Taking controlled deep breaths will calm you down and get you into a more relaxed rhythm rather than a state of uncontrolled panic.· At the hall cupboard she stopped, taking a deep steadying breath to calm the currents suddenly eddying through her body.· She took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves.· In addition, a couple of deep breaths calms the nerves wonderfully when your adrenalin is flowing.· He wiped a trembling hand across his face, and took several deep breaths to calm himself down.· I take a deep breath and try to calm myself, to still the noisy, rusty jagged parts.
· Midland Bank, one of the trustees of the Dumenil funds, stepped in to calm investors' fears.· If this made companies tremble, David Tweedie's pronouncements will have done nothing to calm their fears.· But her host's calm demeanour as he scribbled a few notes and went on to the next call calmed her fears.· The sounds of gunfire and shelling didn't do anything to calm my fears.
· Only watching the sea for hours calmed her.· On Friday the sea turns calm, and there are no more clams.
· Your customer service representatives calm heated situations faster than the New York City fire department.· Clergymen trying to calm the situation were beaten.· Reinforcements were called and 25 police officers had to wade into the crowd to calm the situation.· Two Notre Dame Sisters still live in Soweto, and are very calm about their situation.· A dozen constables eventually calmed the situation and surrounded both dug-outs as the match was completed.· In an effort to calm the situation the government had closed all educational institutions in Dhaka on Oct. 14.
· The usual pattern was calm, then a storm.· There was a time when we waved our scepters and calmed the storms.
· The inspector arrives when things have calmed down a bit.· With good help, things calmed down.· I think things will calm down very quickly.· With their second child, Dierdre, things calmed down in just a few weeks.· Stopping again for things to calm down I began to do a few unwelcome sums.· Since last year, things have calmed down.· Not until things calm down a bit.
· The purpose of the Bill is to introduce the concept of traffic calming into statute.· We will encourage local authorities to introduce peak-hour bans on cars, traffic calming measures, car-sharing schemes and further pedestrianisation.· A TRAFFIC calming scheme on a Darlington estate has been modified after bus companies threatened to boycott the area.
VERB· It is thought to have helped calm tension.· The first was to help Robbie to calm and soothe himself.· I understood exam stress thanks to you - my daughter took me to the exams to help keep me calm.· When Robbie did cross the line, his parents let him know then comforted him and helped him calm down.
· It'd keep them calm, stop them lying awake at night.· Some one must keep them calm or the scissors soon start to fly.· I understood exam stress thanks to you - my daughter took me to the exams to help keep me calm.· It keeps me calm, comforts me ....
· Fortunately Winner managed to calm him down.· I managed to calm him down by handing him my camera, just as one would do to mollify an angry child.· But she managed to calm him down and seek help from a neighbour.· The days of numbing despair had been reduced to quick flashes of temper that Duvall always managed to calm.· At last you manage to calm yourself, and lie throbbing.
· He needs some one to calm him down.· You really need to calm down and take life more stoically to reinforce your position.· I need to mellow out, I need to calm down.
· She settled him in his chair, and was relieved to see that he seemed to be calming down a little.· The situation seemed fairly calm, I remember, when the first group of us arrived.
· Sometimes the harder you try to stay calm the more difficult it becomes.· I tried to stay calm: had I just been invited for a round at Muirfield?
· If ministers itch to do more, they will be told to calm down.· Dennis tells me to calm down, take a deep breath, and count back from a hundred.· She told herself to calm down: at the worst they had lost each other and would have to go home separately.
· And Dexter tried to calm his faint resentment against her for casting a shadow over his optimistic mood.· James was trying to calm them down.· Uncle Alfred tried to calm them down, but they only screamed louder.· Ritchie passed him the joint, sinking into his seat and exhaling as if trying to calm down.· Henri watched him go, trying to calm himself down, distressed at how easily he had succumbed to Richmann's taunts.· Let it be, I thought, still trying to calm myself down.· I tried to calm her, made more tea.· He felt her trying to calm him by her silence.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► bold/calm/cool etc as you please
- Beneath his highly cool exterior he was anguished and distraught.
- It all added up to the fact that below Silas's cool exterior there was warmth and compassion for others.
- So you see, beneath that calm exterior lies a highly unstable child.
- There is little or no hint of the compassion and humanity which lay beneath the cool exterior.
- With her soft voice and her calm exterior, she absolutely would not let creditors off the hook.
WORD FAMILYnouncalmcalmnessadjectivecalmverbcalmadverbcalmly
1to become quiet and relaxed after you have been angry, excited, nervous, or upset, or to make someone become quiet and relaxed: He tried to calm the frightened children. Calm down and tell me what happened. We tried to calm people’s fears.calm yourself (down) She lit a cigarette to calm herself down.2if a situation calms down, it becomes easier to deal with because there are fewer problems and it is not as busy as it was before: It took months for things to calm down after we had the baby.