cease
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for cease, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To stop happening or existing; to come to an end.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use cease
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
More formal than "stop"; common in official notices ("cease and desist"), legal language, and writing, less so in casual speech.
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."
Full origin of cease →Frequently asked questions
What does “cease” mean?
The word “cease” means to stop happening or existing; to come to an end. In plain terms, to stop — used for things ending or people stopping an action.
How do you pronounce “cease”?
“Cease” is pronounced sees (/sis/ in IPA).
How do you use “cease” in a sentence?
Here is “cease” used in a sentence: “The rain finally ceased just before dawn.”
What part of speech is “cease”?
“Cease” is a verb.
Where does the word “cease” come from?
The word “cease” comes from Latin. 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.".
Is “cease” a common word?
“Cease” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “cease” have?
“Cease” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to stop happening or existing; to come to an end.
What is the difference between "cease" and "stop"?
They share the core meaning "to bring or come to an end," but "cease" is distinctly formal and appears mainly in official, legal, and literary contexts, while "stop" is the neutral everyday word. "Cease" also tends to suggest a complete or permanent end rather than a pause.
Is it "cease to do" or "cease doing" something?
Both constructions are grammatical. "Cease doing" is usual for activities that stop, as in "the company ceased trading," while "cease to" is common with states and in more rhetorical phrasing, as in "it never ceases to amaze me" or "ceased to exist." In everyday speech, "stop doing" is far more natural than either.
What is a ceasefire?
A ceasefire is an agreed stop to fighting between opposing forces, usually as a step toward negotiation or peace. The word combines "cease" in its sense of "stop doing something" with "fire" meaning the shooting of weapons. A ceasefire can be temporary and local or a formal, lasting arrangement.