cease

/siːs/

to stop or end

The rain finally ceased after three days.

The rain stopped after three days.

general

to stop an action or process

The negotiations ceased when both parties walked out.

The negotiations stopped when both parties left.

Often used with 'to' to specify what is stopping.

formal

to come to an end; to terminate

Hostilities ceased at midnight.

Fighting ended at midnight.

Common in legal and formal contexts.

Collocations

cease to existto no longer existcease operationsto stop business activitiescease and desista legal order to stop an action

a legal order to stop an action

Use 'cease' in formal writing or legal documents for a more authoritative tone.

'Cease' is often followed by 'to' + verb (e.g., 'cease to exist') or 'from' + noun (e.g., 'cease from work').

From Middle English 'cesen', from Old French 'cesser', from Latin 'cessare' (to go slow, stop), frequentative of 'cedere' (to yield).

Often used in formal or legal contexts. Can be followed by 'to' + verb or 'from' + noun.

cease

to stop

root

English Dictionary