Vocabulary Spotlight
Cease
Part of Speech: Verb
Definition: To stop, bring to an end, or discontinue.
“The rain finally ceased after three days of continuous downpour.”
Pronunciation
[sees]
Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words
Synonyms
Halt
Discontinue
End
Terminate
Antonyms
Start
Begin
Persist
Resume
Related Words
Pause
Desist
Word Origin
“Cease” comes from the Old French “cesser,” meaning “to stop” or “cease,” which traces back to the Latin “cessare,” meaning “to delay” or “be idle.”
Word Family
Noun: Cessation – The process of ending or being brought to an end.
Verb: Cease – To stop or bring to an end.
Mnemonics
Think of “Cease” as “SEe A Stop” — highlighting a complete halt in action.
Remember “Cease” as “CEASEfire,” which means to stop hostilities.
Industry-specific Usage
Military
In military contexts, “ceasefire” agreements indicate the halting of combat operations.
Business
A company may “cease operations” if it goes bankrupt or restructures its business.
Legal
Legal orders, such as cease-and-desist letters, are used to demand that an individual or entity stops certain activities.
In Context
“Cease” implies stopping or ending an action, event, or state of being. Whether used in the context of ending a habit, pausing a conversation, or stopping hostilities, “cease” marks a definite point of change or halt.