cease
1 of 2verb
ˈsēs 
ceased; ceasing
transitive verb
: to cause to come to an end especially gradually : no longer continue
they were forced to cease operations
cease to exist
intransitive verb
1
a
: to come to an end
the fighting gradually ceased
b
: to bring an activity or action to an end : discontinue
they have been ordered to cease and desist
2
obsolete : to become extinct : die out
cease
2 of 2noun
: cessation —usually used with without
I kept an eye upon her without cease
R. L. Stevenson
R. L. Stevenson
Synonyms
Verb
- break off
- break up
- close
- conclude
- dead-end
- determine
- die
- discontinue
- elapse
- end
- expire
- finish
- go
- halt
- lapse
- leave off
- let up
- pass
- quit
- stop
- terminate
- wind up
- wink (out)
Noun
- arrest
- arrestment
- cessation
- check
- close
- closedown
- closure
- conclusion
- cutoff
- discontinuance
- discontinuation
- end
- ending
- expiration
- finish
- halt
- lapse
- offset
- shutdown
- shutoff
- stay
- stop
- stoppage
- surcease
- termination
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The fighting along the border has temporarily ceased. The factory ceased operations last year. The child would not cease his constant whining. Noun worked without cease for the betterment of humanity
Recent Examples on the Web Tom Mctague, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2022 After nearly two decades, the Chrysler 300 will cease production following the 2023 model year. Caleb Miller, Car and Driver, 13 Sep. 2022 French tableware brand Duralex will cease production on Nov. 1 after 77 years as energy costs increase. John Leicester, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Sep. 2022 The first phase of the $1.8 million project will cease airport operations until Sept. 16 and require active air operations to move to other regional airfields. Anna Kaminski, oregonlive, 7 Sep. 2022 As a result of Warner Bros. Discovery deciding that certain series are not worth keeping on HBO Max, these shows essentially now cease to exist. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 22 Aug. 2022 Farmers might cease growing some crops, leaving fields of lettuce and melons to turn to dust. Kathleen Ronayne, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2022 At that point, all pre-registration offers will cease and new user promos will become available. Xl Media, cleveland, 12 Aug. 2022 Once the team comes close to reaching capacity, Rossa said, these recruitment efforts cease. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2022 David S. Cloud, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 Any deal is likely to require a cease-fire along the route. Marc Santora, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2022 Fighting erupted Wednesday near the Tigrayan border in Ethiopia, ending a months-long cease-fire and launching a new phase in a civil war that has had devastating humanitarian consequences. Rachel Chason, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 Political divisions within the West have diminished since this spring, when leaders from France, Germany and Italy called for an early cease-fire in Ukraine. Marcus Walker, WSJ, 23 Aug. 2022 A day after the cease-fire halted the worst round of Gaza fighting in more than a year, Israeli troops killed three Palestinian militants and wounded dozens in a shootout that erupted during an arrest raid in the West Bank city of Nablus. Paul Goldman, NBC News, 14 Aug. 2022 Only a week ago Israel and Palestinian militants had reached a cease-fire to end three days of fighting in the Gaza Strip that left dozens of people dead, including children. Vivek Shankar, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2022 A day after the cease-fire halted the worst round of Gaza fighting in more than a year, Israeli troops killed three Palestinian militants and wounded dozens in a shootout that erupted during an arrest raid in the West Bank city of Nablus. Ilan Ben Zion, ajc, 14 Aug. 2022 A day after the cease-fire stopped the fighting, Israeli troops killed three Palestinian militants and injured dozens in a shootout that took place during an arrest raid in the West Bank city of Nablus. Landon Mion, Fox News, 14 Aug. 2022 See More
Verb
But with her passing, Britain can cease its search. Tom Mctague, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2022 After nearly two decades, the Chrysler 300 will cease production following the 2023 model year. Caleb Miller, Car and Driver, 13 Sep. 2022 French tableware brand Duralex will cease production on Nov. 1 after 77 years as energy costs increase. John Leicester, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Sep. 2022 The first phase of the $1.8 million project will cease airport operations until Sept. 16 and require active air operations to move to other regional airfields. Anna Kaminski, oregonlive, 7 Sep. 2022 As a result of Warner Bros. Discovery deciding that certain series are not worth keeping on HBO Max, these shows essentially now cease to exist. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 22 Aug. 2022 Farmers might cease growing some crops, leaving fields of lettuce and melons to turn to dust. Kathleen Ronayne, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2022 At that point, all pre-registration offers will cease and new user promos will become available. Xl Media, cleveland, 12 Aug. 2022 Once the team comes close to reaching capacity, Rossa said, these recruitment efforts cease. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2022 Noun
But after Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, a senior Shia religious leader, brokered a deal to end the fighting, Mr. Sadr withdrew and agreed to a cease-fire. David S. Cloud, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 Any deal is likely to require a cease-fire along the route. Marc Santora, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Aug. 2022 Fighting erupted Wednesday near the Tigrayan border in Ethiopia, ending a months-long cease-fire and launching a new phase in a civil war that has had devastating humanitarian consequences. Rachel Chason, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 Political divisions within the West have diminished since this spring, when leaders from France, Germany and Italy called for an early cease-fire in Ukraine. Marcus Walker, WSJ, 23 Aug. 2022 A day after the cease-fire halted the worst round of Gaza fighting in more than a year, Israeli troops killed three Palestinian militants and wounded dozens in a shootout that erupted during an arrest raid in the West Bank city of Nablus. Paul Goldman, NBC News, 14 Aug. 2022 Only a week ago Israel and Palestinian militants had reached a cease-fire to end three days of fighting in the Gaza Strip that left dozens of people dead, including children. Vivek Shankar, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2022 A day after the cease-fire halted the worst round of Gaza fighting in more than a year, Israeli troops killed three Palestinian militants and wounded dozens in a shootout that erupted during an arrest raid in the West Bank city of Nablus. Ilan Ben Zion, ajc, 14 Aug. 2022 A day after the cease-fire stopped the fighting, Israeli troops killed three Palestinian militants and injured dozens in a shootout that took place during an arrest raid in the West Bank city of Nablus. Landon Mion, Fox News, 14 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
Middle English cesen, from Anglo-French cesser, from Latin cessare to hold back, be remiss, frequentative of cedere
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing cease
Kids Definition
cease
verb
ˈsēs
ceased; ceasing
: to come or bring to an end : stop
The talking ceased.
cease 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to stop
to come to an end the rain finally ceased, and we were able to continue the baseball game Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- stop
- end
- expire
- halt
- conclude
- terminate
- discontinue
- die
- pass
- go
- finish
- close
- determine
- lapse
- quit
- elapse
- wind up
- stall
- leave off
- let up
- break off
- break up
- suspend
- pause
- dead-end
- bite the dust
- wink (out)
- abate
- stay
- cut out
- refrain (from)
- desist (from)
- give over
- lay off (of)
- break down
- pack (up or in)
- knock off
- wind down
- conk (out)
- peter (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continue
- persist
- hang on
- extend
- prolong
- protract
- draw out
2
as in to halt
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end cease chattering and get down to work, please Synonyms & Similar Words
- stop
- halt
- end
- quit
- discontinue
- suspend
- delay
- can
- suspend
- conclude
- cut off
- lay off
- shut off
- drop
- cut out
- break
- finish
- leave off
- call
- break off
- complete
- break up
- desist (from)
- impede
- hinder
- give over
- pack (up or in)
- pause
- put the kibosh on
- obstruct
- have done with
- deactivate
- suppress
- ruin
- block
- detain
- knock off
- hold
- abolish
- abort
- dissolve
- destroy
- stem
- stay
- blockade
- arrest
- kill
- hold back
- annul
- staunch
- squelch
- dam
- scuttle
- check
- turn back
- brake
- stanch
- demolish
- close (down)
- stamp
- kibosh
- stunt
- squash
- snuff
- clamp down
- rein (in)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continue
- proceed
- keep up
- follow through (with)
- advance
- progress
- run on
- stir
- impel
- actuate
- propel
- carry on
- drive
cease
2 of 2noun
as in cessation
the stopping of a process or activity worked without cease for the betterment of humanity Synonyms & Similar Words
- cessation
- halt
- ending
- stop
- end
- close
- closure
- termination
- discontinuance
- conclusion
- surcease
- stay
- shutdown
- discontinuation
- arrest
- finish
- stoppage
- expiration
- lapse
- offset
- shutoff
- cutoff
- closedown
- pause
- arrestment
- check
- interruption
- suspension
- standstill
- phaseout
- abeyance
- moratorium
- break
- letup
- mop-up
- layoff
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continuation
- continuance
- extension
- persistence
- prolongation
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of cease are desist, discontinue, quit, and stop. While all these words mean "to suspend or cause to suspend activity," cease applies to states, conditions, or existence and may add a suggestion of gradualness and a degree of finality.
by nightfall the fighting had ceased
The words desist and cease can be used in similar contexts, but desist implies forbearance or restraint as a motive for stopping or ceasing.
desisted from further efforts to persuade them
The synonyms discontinue and cease are sometimes interchangeable, but discontinue applies to the stopping of an accustomed activity or practice.
we have discontinued the manufacture of that item
While in some cases nearly identical to cease, quit may stress either finality or abruptness in stopping or ceasing.
the engine faltered, sputtered, then quit altogether
In some situations, the words stop and cease are roughly equivalent. However, stop applies to action or progress or to what is operating or progressing and may imply suddenness or definiteness.
stopped at the red light