verb
appease
uh-PEEZ
verb
1
To calm someone down or make them less angry, especially by giving them what they want.
"He tried to appease his boss by working through the weekend."
"The government offered tax cuts to appease angry voters."
How to Use Appease
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo calm someone's anger or demands, usually by giving in to what they want.
Common mistake
Often carries a negative undertone, implying giving in too easily rather than resolving the real problem — as in the historical "appeasement" of aggressive powers before WWII.
Common pairings
appease critics
appease the crowd
try to appease
Word Forms
appeased past tense, appeases singular
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He tried to _____ his boss by working through the weekend.
Etymology
From Old French apeser, "to bring to peace," related to Latin pax ("peace").