cease
gb/sˈis/ us/sˈis/
B2
English
~ 2900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
Stop happening or doing
To stop doing something or for something to stop happening.
Usage pattern:
to cease [doing something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'cease' with 'seize' due to similar pronunciation, but 'seize' means to grab or take hold of.
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.)
Collocations
cease operations
|cease fire
|cease production
|cease trading
|cease contact
Themes
daily life
|business
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company will cease operations at the end of the year.
- All hostilities must cease immediately.
- 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.
- She ceased talking when the teacher came in.
- It ceased to rain in the evening.
- We will cease work at 5 p.m.
- The game ceased because of bad weather.
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.