cease
gb/sˈis/ us/sˈis/
B2
English
~ 2900
megszűnik, abbahagy, megszüntet
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
to cease [doing something]
The company will cease operations at the end of the year.
A vállalat az év végén beszünteti a működését.
All hostilities must cease immediately.
Minden ellenségeskedésnek azonnal meg kell szűnnie.
Production ceased after the factory closed.
He ceased speaking when the phone rang.
The rain finally ceased in the afternoon.
Learner examples
The noise ceased after midnight.
Éjfél után megszűnt a zaj.
She ceased talking when the teacher came in.
Abbahagyta a beszédet, amikor a tanár bejött.
It ceased to rain in the evening.
We will cease work at 5 p.m.
The game ceased because of bad weather.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'cease' with 'seize' due to similar pronunciation, but 'seize' means to grab or take hold of.
Meaning
Stop happening or doing
Collocations
cease operations
|cease fire
|cease production
|cease trading
|cease contact
Synonyms
stop (More common and less formal; used in everyday conversation.)
|
halt (Often implies a more sudden or forceful stop.)
Antonyms
begin (Opposite in meaning as it indicates starting an action or event.)
|
continue (Opposite as it means to keep going without stopping.)
Themes
daily life
|business
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To stop doing something or for something to stop happening.
To bring an action, event, or process to an end, or to come to an end.
Grammar
Dictionary form
cease
IPA
GB/sˈis/
US/sˈis/
Syllables & stress
cease (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (cease)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: cease
- 3rd Person Singular: ceases
- Present Participle: ceasing
- Past: ceased
Word family
Forms
ceases
verb
ceasing
verb
ceased
verb
Core family
cessation
noun C1
Related words
ceasefire
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
incessant
adjective C1
incessantly
adverb C1
Expressions
cease and desist
1/sˈis ˈænd dɪsˈɪst/
fixed phrase
formal
Stop illegal or unwanted action
To officially order someone to stop doing something, especially something illegal or harmful.
Examples
- The company sent a cease and desist letter to the infringer.
- He was told to cease and desist from using the trademark.
cease fire
1/sˈis fˈaɪɚ/
fixed phrase
Stop shooting weapons
To stop using guns or other weapons, often as part of a temporary truce.
Examples
- Both sides agreed to a cease fire at midnight.
- The soldiers were ordered to cease fire immediately.