Word forms: comparative calmer, superlative calmest, plural, 3rd person singular presenttense calms, present participle calming, past tense, past participle calmed
1. adjective
A calm person does not show or feel any worry, anger, or excitement.
She is usually a calm and diplomatic woman.
Try to keep calm and just tell me what happened.
She sighed, then continued in a soft, calm voice.
Diane felt very calm and unafraid as she saw him off the next morning.
Synonyms: cool, relaxed, composed, sedate More Synonyms of calm
Calm is also a noun.
He felt a sudden sense of calm, of contentment.
calmlyadverb [usually ADVERB with verb, oft ADVERB adjective]
Alan looked at him and said calmly, 'I don't believe you.'
If ever there was a problem, she reacted calmly and solved it herself.
Synonyms: coolly, casually, sedately, serenely More Synonyms of calm
calmnessuncountable noun
All those things gave him a feeling of security and calmness.
Synonyms: peacefulness, peace, quiet, calm More Synonyms of calm
Synonyms: coolness, cool [slang], composure, poise More Synonyms of calm
2. verb
If you calm someone, you do something to make them feel less angry, worried, or excited.
The ruling party's veterans know how to calm their critics. [VERB noun]
She was breathing quickly and tried to calm herself. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
Some people say smoking calms your nerves. [VERB noun]
calmingadjective
...a fresh, cool fragrance which produces a very calming effect on the mind.
3. uncountable noun
Calm is used to refer to a quiet, still, or peaceful atmosphere in a place.
The house projects an atmosphere of calm and order.
...the rural calm of Grand Rapids, Michigan. [+ of]
Synonyms: stillness, peace, quiet, hush More Synonyms of calm
4. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If someone says that a place is calm, they mean that it is free from fighting or public disorder, when trouble has recently occurred there or had been expected.
[journalism]
The city of Sarajevo appears relatively calm today.
Synonyms: peaceful, quiet, tranquil, undisturbed More Synonyms of calm
Calm is also a noun.
Community and church leaders have appealed for calm and no retaliation.
An uneasy calm is reported to be prevailing in the area.
5. verb
To calm a situation means to reduce the amount of trouble, violence, or panic there is.
Mr Beazer tried to calm the protests. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: placate, hush, pacify, mollify More Synonyms of calm
6. adjective
If the sea or a lake is calm, the water is not moving very much and there are no big waves.
...as we slid into the calm waters of Cowes Harbour.
7. adjective
Calm weather is pleasant weather with little or no wind.
Tuesday was a fine, clear and calm day.
8. countable noun
In sailing, a flat calm or a dead calm is a condition of the sea or the weather in which there is very little wind or movement of the water.
[technical]
...during flat calms when the water is crystal clear.
We had the whole gamut of wind from a dead calm to a force 10 gale.
9. verb
When the sea calms, it becomes still because the wind stops blowing strongly. When the wind calms, it stops blowing strongly.
Dawn came, the sea calmed but the cold was as bitter as ever. [VERB]
10. verb
To calm a pain or an itch means to reduce it or get rid of it.
...more traditional methods of soothing the skin and calming the itch. [VERB noun]
11.
See the calm before the storm
Phrasal verbs:
See calm down
More Synonyms of calm
calm in British English
(kɑːm)
adjective
1.
almost without motion; still
a calm sea
2. meteorology
of force 0 on the Beaufort scale; without wind
3.
not disturbed, agitated, or excited; under control
he stayed calm throughout the confusion
4.
tranquil; serene
a calm voice
noun
5.
an absence of disturbance or rough motion; stillness
6.
an absence of wind
7.
tranquillity
verb
8. (often foll by down)
to make or become calm
Derived forms
calmly (ˈcalmly)
adverb
calmness (ˈcalmness)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French calme, from Old Italian calma, from Late Latin cauma heat, hence a rest during the heat of the day, from Greek kauma heat, from kaiein to burn
calm in American English
(kɑm)
noun
1.
lack of wind or motion; stillness
2.
lack of agitation or excitement; tranquillity; serenity
3. Meteorology
a condition in which the air movement is less than one mile per hour
adjective
4.
without wind or motion; still; quiet
5.
not agitated or excited; tranquil or cool
verb transitive, verb intransitive
6.
to make or become calm
often with down
SYNONYMY NOTE: calm, basically applied to the weather, suggests a total absence of agitation or disturbance[a calm sea, mind, answer]; tranquil implies a more intrinsic or permanent peace and quiet than , calm [they lead a tranquil life]; serene suggests an exalted tranquillity [he died with a serene smile on his lips]; placid implies an undisturbed or unruffled calm and is sometimes used in jocular disparagementto suggest dull equanimity [she's as placid as a cow]; peaceful suggests a lack of turbulence or disorder [a peaceful gathering]
OPPOSITES: stormy, agitated, excited
Derived forms
calmly (ˈcalmly)
adverb
calmness (ˈcalmness)
noun
Word origin
ME & OFr calme < OIt calma < LL (Vulg.: Job 30:30) cauma, heat, heat of the day (hence, in It, time to rest, quiet: see siesta) < Gr kauma, heat, esp. of the sun < kaiein, to burn; It sp. infl. by L calere, to be hot
More idioms containing
calm
the calm before the storm
Examples of 'calm' in a sentence
calm
It takes me days to calm her down again.
The Sun (2016)
Perhaps you are trying too hard and need to calm down a little.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Witnesses said that the sea had been calm and it was a beautiful day.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Just play calm and make sure we get into the game.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
She also takes digestion calming drops.
The Sun (2017)
When the weather is calm, take a stroll around the unusual island.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I will remain calm before the storm comes.
The Sun (2016)
The only men who are allowed on the 12th floor are workmen and delivery men and the atmosphere is calm and distinctly feminine.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He is such a calm and quiet person,' he said.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Then he leaves you, lets you relax in your mind and become calm about what you're doing.
The Sun (2016)
The key to making the most of them is to stay calm and controlled.
The Sun (2013)
There might have been the slightest ocean swell but it was dead calm.
Eaton, John P & Haas, Charles A Titanic - Destination disaster (1987)
He told us that the weather was calm enough for us to resume our journey.
Edward Beauclerk Maurice THE LAST OF THE GENTLEMEN ADVENTURERS: Coming of Age in the Arctic (2004)
It always calmed me and still does.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Two minutes into the row the driver stops and tries to calm the situation as passengers watch.
The Sun (2015)
Then he had to sing a ballad after that to calm things down again.
The Sun (2007)
Things have calmed down a little nowadays.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
They are always very calm while they make and eat the sandwiches.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Yoga can also help to calm the mind.
The Sun (2014)
Picture a scene or situation which induces a feeling of contentment and calm.
French, Barbara Coping with Bulimia (1987)
Wednesday was the calm before the storm.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He became calm and peaceful and was able to look at the real issue and deal with it.
Christianity Today (2000)
That is why the scramble to calm anger by launching an official inquiry has become such a tangled affair.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It was a calm, cold night.
Edward Beauclerk Maurice THE LAST OF THE GENTLEMEN ADVENTURERS: Coming of Age in the Arctic (2004)
The sea was calm, perfectly flat.
Eaton, John P & Haas, Charles A Titanic - Destination disaster (1987)
The slow Blues movement is a serene oasis of calm at the heart of the work.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
calm
British English: calm /kɑːm/ ADJECTIVE
person A calm person does not show or feel any worry, anger, or excitement.
She is usually a calm and diplomatic woman.
American English: calm
Arabic: سَاكِن
Brazilian Portuguese: calmo
Chinese: 平静的
Croatian: miran
Czech: klidný
Danish: rolig
Dutch: kalm
European Spanish: calmado
Finnish: rauhallinen
French: calme
German: ruhig
Greek: ήρεμος
Italian: calmo
Japanese: 落ち着いた
Korean: 고요한
Norwegian: rolig
Polish: spokojny
European Portuguese: calmo
Romanian: calm
Russian: спокойный
Latin American Spanish: calmado
Swedish: lugn
Thai: ที่มีอารมณ์สงบ
Turkish: sakin
Ukrainian: спокійний
Vietnamese: bình tĩnh
British English: calm VERB
If you calm someone, you do something to make them feel less angry, worried, or excited.
Dawn came, the sea calmed, but the cold was as bitter as ever.
American English: calm
Brazilian Portuguese: acalmar
Chinese: 使平静
European Spanish: tranquilizar
French: calmer
German: beruhigen
Italian: calmare
Japanese: 静める
Korean: 진정시키다
European Portuguese: acalmar
Latin American Spanish: tranquilizar
British English: calm ADJECTIVE
water If the sea or a lake is calm, the water is not moving very much and there are no big waves.
...as we slid into the calm waters of the harbour.
American English: calm
Brazilian Portuguese: calmo
Chinese: 平静无波的
European Spanish: tranquilo
French: calme
German: ruhig
Italian: calmo
Japanese: 穏やかな
Korean: 잔잔한
European Portuguese: calmo
Latin American Spanish: tranquilo
Chinese translation of 'calm'
calm
(kɑːm)
adj
[person]冷静(靜)的 (lěngjìng de)
[voice]镇(鎮)静(靜)的 (zhènjìng de)
[place]安宁(寧)的 (ānníng de)
(= not stormy)
[sea]平静(靜)的 (píngjìng de)
[weather]平静(靜)无(無)风(風)的 (píngjìng wúfēng de)
n(u/s)
(= tranquillity) 平静(靜) (píngjìng)
vt
[person, child, animal]使平静(靜) (shǐ píngjìng)
[nerves, fears]平息 (píngxī)
1 (adjective)
Definition
not showing or not feeling agitation or excitement
Try to keep calm and just tell me what happened.
Synonyms
cool
He was marvellously cool, smiling as if nothing had happened.
relaxed
composed
She was standing beside him, very calm and composed.
sedate
She took them to visit her sedate, elderly cousins.
undisturbed
collected
Police say she was cool and collected during her interrogation.
unmoved
dispassionate
He spoke in a flat dispassionate tone.
unfazed (informal)
impassive
He searched the man's impassive face for some indication that he understood.
unflappable (informal)
Professional life-savers need to be calm and unflappable.
unruffled
Anne had remained unruffled, very cool and controlled.
unemotional
Officials who dealt with Mr Suarez described him as cool, detached, and unemotional.
self-possessed
imperturbable
He was cool and aloof, and imperturbable.
equable
He was a man of the most equable temperament.
keeping your cool
unexcited
unexcitable
as cool as a cucumber
chilled (informal)
Opposites
worried
,
troubled
,
heated
,
shaken
,
excited
,
emotional
,
disturbed
,
fierce
,
aroused
,
frantic
,
agitated
,
perturbed
,
discomposed
2 (adjective)
Definition
not showing or not feeling agitation or excitement
The city appears relatively calm today.
Synonyms
peaceful
a peaceful scene
quiet
I just want a quiet life.
tranquil
The place was tranquil and appealing.
undisturbed
the undisturbed waters of the lake
untroubled
She remained untroubled by the reports.
free from strife
3 (adjective)
Definition
(of weather) windless
The normally calm waters of Mururoa lagoon heaved and frothed.
Synonyms
still
He sat very still for several minutes.
quiet
He's a nice quiet man.
smooth
This was only a brief upset in their smooth lives.
peaceful
mild
The area is famous for its mild winters.
serene
She looked as calm and serene as always.
tranquil
placid
the placid waters of Lake Erie
halcyon
The next day dawned sunny with a halcyon blue sky.
balmy
a balmy summer's evening
restful
a joyous and restful three days
windless
pacific
a pacific scene
Opposites
wild
,
rough
,
stormy
1 (noun)
Definition
a peaceful state
He felt a sudden sense of calm and contentment.
Synonyms
peacefulness
peace
People always felt a sense of peace in her company.
serenity
a wonderful feeling of peace and serenity
calmness
2 (noun)
Definition
a peaceful state
the rural calm of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Synonyms
stillness
peace
All I want is a bit of peace and quiet.
quiet
He wants some peace and quiet.
hush
A hush fell over the crowd.
serenity
tranquillity
The hotel is a haven of peace and tranquillity.
repose
The atmosphere is one of repose.
calmness
peacefulness
3 (noun)
Church leaders have appealed for calm.
Synonyms
peace
calmness
Opposites
disturbance
,
agitation
,
wildness
1 (verb)
Definition
to make or become calm
She took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
Synonyms
soothe
He would take her in his arms and soothe her.
settle
They needed a win to settle their nerves.
quiet
relax
Do something that you know relaxes you.
appease
The offer has not appeased separatists.
still
Her crying slowly stilled.
The people's voice has been stilled.
allay
He did what he could to allay the children's fears.
assuage
The meat they'd managed to procure assuaged their hunger.
quieten
It took a long time to quieten the paranoia of the West.
Opposites
excite
,
disturb
,
irritate
,
aggravate
,
agitate
2 (verb)
Definition
to make or become calm
Officials hoped this action would calm the situation.
Synonyms
placate
He smiled, and made a gesture intended to placate me.
hush
pacify
Is this just something to pacify the critics?
mollify
The investigation was undertaken to mollify pressure groups.
Opposites
stir
,
arouse
,
aggravate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of allay
Definition
to reduce (fear, doubt, or anger)
He did what he could to allay the children's fears.
Synonyms
reduce,
quiet,
relax,
ease,
calm,
smooth,
relieve,
check,
moderate,
dull,
diminish,
compose,
soften,
blunt,
soothe,
subdue,
lessen,
alleviate,
appease,
quell,
mitigate,
assuage,
pacify,
mollify
in the sense of appease
Definition
to pacify (someone) by yielding to his or her demands
The offer has not appeased separatists.
Synonyms
pacify,
satisfy,
calm,
soothe,
quiet,
placate,
mollify,
conciliate
in the sense of assuage
The meat they'd managed to procure assuaged their hunger.