verb

cease

sees

verb

To stop happening or existing; to come to an end.

"The rain finally ceased just before dawn."

"Trading on the stock ceased after the scandal broke."

To stop doing something.

"The workers ceased production during the strike."

"She never ceased to amaze her colleagues with new ideas."

How to Use Cease

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo stop — used for things ending or people stopping an action.

When to use it

More formal than "stop"; common in official notices ("cease and desist"), legal language, and writing, less so in casual speech.

Common pairings

cease fire cease operations cease to exist never cease to

Word Forms

ceased past tense, cease plural, ceased plural, Ceases plural, ceases singular, cease singular, ceased singular, ceasest singular, ceasedst singular, ceaseth singular

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The rain finally _____ just before dawn.

Etymology

From Middle English cesen, borrowed via Old French cesser from Latin cessare ("to leave off, delay"), a frequent form of cedere ("to go away, withdraw"). Related to "cessation" and "recede."

Rhymes for cease

case base mase vase ease tase Jase erase phase pease chase lease

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