Calm — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /ˈkäm/

Meaning & Definition of Calm

Calm (noun)

  1. a period or condition of freedom from storms, high winds, or rough activity of water
  2. complete absence of wind or presence of wind having a speed no greater than one mile (1.6 kilometers) per hour
  3. a state of tranquility

Calm (verb)

  1. to become calm —usually used with down
  2. to make calm —often used with down

Calm (adjective)

  1. marked by calm, still
  2. free from agitation, excitement, or disturbance

Calm (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. free from storms or physical disturbance

    "after a stormy night of high winds and driving rains, the day dawned on a calm sea"

    similar: halcyon, hushed, lown (dialect), peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, still, stilly, tranquil, untroubled
    related: balmy, clement, equable, gentle, mild, moderate, temperate, clear, cloudless, fair, rainless, sunny, sunshiny, windless
    opposite: agitated, angry, inclement, restless, rough, stormy, tempestuous, turbulent, unquiet, unsettled
    near: blizzardy, blustery, squally, windy, extreme, foul, intemperate, nasty, severe

  2. free from emotional or mental agitation

    "bystanders tried to help the injured person remain calm while they waited for the ambulance to arrive"

    similar: collected, composed, cool, coolheaded, equal, level, limpid, peaceful, placid, possessed, recollected, sedate, self-composed, self-possessed, serene, smooth, together, tranquil, undisturbed, unperturbed, unruffled, unshaken, untroubled, unworried, at peace
    related: even, even-keeled, steady, well-adjusted, well-balanced, imperturbable, nerveless, unflappable, unshakable, centered, disciplined, equable, self-contained, self-controlled, affable, breezy, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, laid-back, loosey-goosey, mellow, carefree, nonchalant, unconcerned, assured, confident, self-assured, aloof, detached, dispassionate, indifferent, bovine, impassive, phlegmatic, sober, stolid, relaxed, relieved, tranquilized
    opposite: agitated, discomposed, disturbed, flustered, perturbed, unglued, unhinged, unstrung, upset
    near: anxious, bothered, distressed, uneasy, unquiet, unsettled, worried, jittery, jumpy, nervous, restless, skittish, tense, high-strung, unstable, uptight

  3. free from disturbing noise or uproar

    "the room became much calmer once the rowdy tour group had left"

    similar: arcadian, hushed, peaceful, placid, quiet, restful, serene, still, stilly, tranquil
    related: noiseless, silent, soundless, mute, speechless, wordless, dead, motionless, quiescent, muffled, muted, quieted, dull, gentle, low, soft, ultraquiet
    opposite: boisterous, clamorous, clattery, deafening, loud, noisy, raucous, rip-roaring, roistering, romping, rowdy, tumultuous, unquiet, uproarious, woolly
    near: crazy, tempestuous, wild, blaring, blasting, booming, earsplitting, piercing, roaring, thundering, thunderous

Calm (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a state of freedom from storm or disturbance

    "vacationing city dwellers who are tired of the hustle and bustle enjoy the calm of the secluded mountain village"

    similar: calmness, hush, peace, peacefulness, placidity, quiet, quietness, quietude, repose, restfulness, sereneness, serenity, still, stillness, tranquility
    related: lull, pause, respite, silence, mildness, soothingness, comity, concord, harmony, casualness, easygoingness, informality, laid-backness, relaxedness
    opposite: bustle, commotion, hubbub, hurly-burly, pandemonium, tumult, turmoil, unquietness, unrest, uproar
    near: clamor, din, noise, racket

  2. freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions

    "the batter always exudes an aura of calm, even in clutch situations"

    similar: calmness, heartsease, peace, peacefulness, placidity, sereneness, serenity, tranquility
    related: content, contentment, ease, comfort, consolation, relief, solace, quiet, quietude, repose
    opposite: agitation, alarm, anguish, anxiety, anxiousness, apprehension, apprehensiveness, uneasiness, vexation, worry
    near: care, concern, perturbation, strain, stress, tenseness, tension, consternation, desperateness, desperation, discomfort, discomposure, dismay, distraction, distress, disturbance, edginess, jitters, jumpiness, nervousness, fear, fearfulness, torment, upset, doubt, dread, foreboding, incertitude, misgiving, presentiment, suspense, uncertainty

Calm (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to free from distress or disturbance

    "the president's reassuring words did much to calm the public during the national emergency"

    similar: becalm, compose, lull, lullaby, quiet, quieten (chiefly British), salve, settle, soothe, still, tranquilize
    related: appease, conciliate, hush, mollify, pacify, placate, allay, alleviate, assuage, ease, lay, mitigate, quell, relax, relieve, solace, narcotize, sedate, stupefy
    opposite: agitate, discompose, disquiet, disturb, key (up), perturb, upset, vex
    near: aggravate, heighten, intensify, arouse, excite, foment, incite, rouse, stir (up), work up

  2. to gain emotional or mental control of

    "he calmed himself before continuing the eulogy"

    similar: collect, compose, contain, control, re-collect, settle
    related: hold back, restrain, rally, recover, lull, quiet, soothe, still, tranquilize

Related Entry: Calm (down) (verb)

Calm (down) is a different word from Calm. The synonyms below are for calm (down), not for calm.

  1. to become still and orderly

    "the sea finally calmed down, making it safe for small craft to venture forth once again"

    similar: chill out (slang), cool, hush, pipe down, quiet, settle (down), cool it
    related: dry up, relax, tranquilize, unwind, zone out
    opposite: act up, carry on, cut up
    near: clown (around), fool around, horse around, monkey (around), show off, skylark

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Calm

The most common words with a similar meaning to Calm:

Dialect: lown
Chiefly British: quieten
halcyon, hushed, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, still, stilly, tranquil, untroubled, collected, composed, cool, coolheaded, equal, level, limpid, possessed, recollected, sedate, self-composed, self-possessed, smooth, together, undisturbed, unperturbed, unruffled, unshaken, unworried, arcadian, restful, at peace, calmness, hush, peace, peacefulness, placidity, quietness, quietude, repose

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Calm

Words with the opposite meaning of Calm:

agitated, angry, inclement, restless, rough, stormy, tempestuous, turbulent, unquiet, unsettled, discomposed, disturbed, flustered, perturbed, unglued, unhinged, unstrung, upset, boisterous, clamorous, clattery, deafening, loud, noisy, raucous, rip-roaring, roistering, romping, rowdy, tumultuous

Related Words for Calm

balmy, clement, equable, gentle, mild, moderate, temperate, clear, cloudless, fair, rainless, sunny, sunshiny, windless, even, even-keeled, steady, well-adjusted, well-balanced, imperturbable, nerveless, unflappable, unshakable, centered, disciplined, self-contained, self-controlled, affable, breezy, devil-may-care

Near Antonyms of Calm

blizzardy, blustery, squally, windy, extreme, foul, intemperate, nasty, severe, anxious, bothered, distressed, uneasy, worried, jittery, jumpy, nervous, skittish, tense, high-strung, unstable, uptight, crazy, wild, blaring, blasting, booming, earsplitting, piercing, roaring

Word Forms of Calm

Inflections: calmed, calming, calms

Derived words: calmly (adverb), calmness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Calm

Middle English calme, probably ultimately from Old Spanish calma, from Late Latin cauma heat, from Greek kauma, from kaiein to burn

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Calm

calm, cool, and collected, cool/calm head, the calm/lull before the storm

Frequently Asked Questions about Calm

What does "Calm" mean?

"Calm" means a period or condition of freedom from storms, high winds, or rough activity of water. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: a period or condition of freedom from storms, high winds, or rough activity of water. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Calm"?

Other words for "Calm" include halcyon, hushed, lown, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene and still. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Calm" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Calm"?

There are 168 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Calm". Common alternatives include halcyon, hushed, lown, peaceful, placid, quiet, serene, still, stilly and tranquil.

What is the opposite of "Calm"?

Antonyms of "Calm" include agitated, angry, inclement, restless, rough, stormy, tempestuous and turbulent. Near antonyms include blizzardy, blustery, squally and windy.

How do you use "Calm" in a sentence?

Examples of "Calm" in a sentence: "after a stormy night of high winds and driving rains, the day dawned on a calm sea"; "bystanders tried to help the injured person remain calm while they waited for the ambulance to arrive"; "the room became much calmer once the rowdy tour group had left".

Is "Calm" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Calm" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Calm"?

"Calm" is pronounced /ˈkäm/.

What is the origin of the word "Calm"?

"Calm" comes from Middle English calme, probably ultimately from Old Spanish calma, from Late Latin cauma heat, from Greek kauma, from kaiein to burn. First known use: 14th century.