cease
The end or stopping of an activity or state, though the word is more commonly used as a verb. In its noun form, it often appears in legal contexts or fixed literary expressions meaning a permanent or temporary halt.
Examples
3 of 5The heavy rains continued for days without cease.
The heavy rains did not stop for several days.
The court issued a cease and desist order regarding the patent infringement.
The legal authorities ordered the company to stop and not start again.
His complaining was without cease, making the trip quite difficult.
He never stopped complaining during the journey.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Cease sounds like 'release.' Think of releasing your grip on an activity to make it stop.
Quick Quiz
The company was served with a _____ and desist order after using the competitor's logo.
Correct!
The correct answer is: cease
Examples
The heavy rains continued for days without cease.
everydayThe heavy rains did not stop for several days.
The court issued a cease and desist order regarding the patent infringement.
formalThe legal authorities ordered the company to stop and not start again.
His complaining was without cease, making the trip quite difficult.
informalHe never stopped complaining during the journey.
The research documented the cease of neural activity in the sample.
academicThe study recorded the point where brain activity stopped in the specimen.
Management demanded an immediate cease to all unauthorized spending.
businessThe bosses ordered that all spending without permission must stop right now.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
cease and desist
stop doing something and do not do it again (legal)
without cease
unendingly; all the time
ceasefire
an agreement to stop fighting a war for a period of time
Often Confused With
Seize means to grab or take hold of something suddenly, whereas cease means to stop.
Cessation is the standard noun form for 'stopping'; cease as a noun is primarily restricted to legal or idiomatic phrases.
Usage Notes
While 'cease' is a common verb, its use as a noun is restricted to formal legal documents (cease and desist) or literary phrases (without cease). In general writing, use 'cessation' or 'stop' as the noun.
Common Mistakes
Learners often try to use 'cease' as a common noun like 'the cease of the game,' where 'the end of the game' or 'the cessation of play' would be correct.
Memory Tip
Cease sounds like 'release.' Think of releasing your grip on an activity to make it stop.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'cessare', meaning to stop, delay, or be idle.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In the US, 'cease and desist' letters are a very common cultural and legal reference when one party wants another to stop a specific behavior or trademark use.
Quick Quiz
The company was served with a _____ and desist order after using the competitor's logo.
Correct!
The correct answer is: cease
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