Ceases — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈsēs/

Meaning & Definition of Ceases

Ceases (verb)

  1. to cause to come to an end especially gradually, no longer continue
  2. to come to an end
  3. to bring an activity or action to an end, discontinue

Ceases (noun)

  1. cessation —usually used with without

Ceases (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to come to an end

    "the rain finally ceased, and we were able to continue the baseball game"

    similar: breaks off, breaks up, closes, concludes, dead-ends, determines, dies, discontinues, elapses, ends, expires, finishes, goes, halts, lapses, leaves off, lets up, passes, quits, stops, terminates, winds up, winks (out), bites the dust
    related: desists (from), lays off (of), refrains (from), gives over (British), knocks off, packs (up or in), breaks down, conks (out), cuts out, stalls, pauses, stays, suspends, abates, peters (out), winds down
    opposite: continues, hangs on, persists
    near: draws out, extends, prolongs, protracts

  2. to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end

    "cease chattering and get down to work, please"

    similar: breaks, breaks off, breaks up, cans (slang), cuts off, cuts out, desists (from), discontinues, drops, ends, gives over, halts, knocks off, lays off, leaves off, packs (up or in), quits, shuts off, stops, has done with, puts the kibosh on
    related: completes, concludes, finishes, closes (down), deactivates, blockades, blocks, dams, delays, detains, hinders, holds, holds back, impedes, kiboshes, obstructs, stems, calls, suspends, arrests, brakes, checks, clamps down, reins (in), squashes, squelches, stamps, stanches, stunts, suppresses, turns back, pauses, stays, abolishes, aborts, annuls, demolishes, destroys, dissolves, kills, ruins, scuttles, snuffs
    near: carries on, continues, follows through (with), keeps up, runs on, advances, proceeds, progresses, actuates, drives, impels, propels, stirs

Ceases (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the stopping of a process or activity

    "worked without cease for the betterment of humanity"

    similar: arrestments, arrests, cessations, checks, closedowns, closes, closures, conclusions, cutoffs, discontinuances, discontinuations, endings, ends, expirations, finishes, halts, lapses, offsets, shutdowns, shutoffs, stays, stoppages, stops, surceases, terminations
    related: mop-ups, phaseouts, abeyances, breaks, interruptions, layoffs, letups, moratoriums, pauses, standstills, suspensions
    opposite: continuances, continuations
    near: extensions, persistences, prolongations

Related Entry: Cease (verb)

Cease is a different word from Ceases. The synonyms below are for cease, not for ceases.

  1. to come to an end

    "the rain finally ceased, and we were able to continue the baseball game"

    similar: break off, break up, close, conclude, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, end, expire, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wind up, wink (out), bite the dust
    related: desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from), give over (British), knock off, pack (up or in), break down, conk (out), cut out, stall, pause, stay, suspend, abate, peter (out), wind down
    opposite: continue, hang on, persist
    near: draw out, extend, prolong, protract

  2. to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end

    "cease chattering and get down to work, please"

    similar: break, break off, break up, can (slang), cut off, cut out, desist (from), discontinue, drop, end, give over, halt, knock off, lay off, leave off, pack (up or in), quit, shut off, stop, have done with, put the kibosh on
    related: complete, conclude, finish, close (down), deactivate, block, blockade, dam, delay, detain, hinder, hold, hold back, impede, kibosh, obstruct, stem, call, suspend, arrest, brake, check, clamp down, rein (in), squash, squelch, stamp, stanch, stunt, suppress, turn back, pause, stay, abolish, abort, annul, demolish, destroy, dissolve, kill, ruin, scuttle, snuff
    near: carry on, continue, follow through (with), keep up, run on, advance, proceed, progress, actuate, drive, impel, propel, stir

Related Entry: Cease (noun)

Cease is a different word from Ceases. The synonyms below are for cease, not for ceases.

  1. the stopping of a process or activity

    "worked without cease for the betterment of humanity"

    similar: arrest, arrestment, cessation, check, close, closedown, closure, conclusion, cutoff, discontinuance, discontinuation, end, ending, expiration, finish, halt, lapse, offset, shutdown, shutoff, stay, stop, stoppage, surcease, termination
    related: mop-up, phaseout, abeyance, break, interruption, layoff, letup, moratorium, pause, standstill, suspension
    opposite: continuance, continuation
    near: extension, persistence, prolongation

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Ceases

The most common words with a similar meaning to Ceases:

Slang: cans
breaks off, breaks up, closes, concludes, dead-ends, determines, dies, discontinues, elapses, ends, expires, finishes, goes, halts, lapses, leaves off, lets up, passes, quits, stops, terminates, winds up, winks (out), breaks, cuts off, cuts out, desists (from), drops, gives over, knocks off, lays off, packs (up or in), shuts off, bites the dust, has done with, puts the kibosh on, arrestments, arrests, cessations, checks

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Ceases

Words with the opposite meaning of Ceases:

continues, hangs on, persists, continuances, continuations

Related Words for Ceases

lays off (of), refrains (from), breaks down, conks (out), stalls, pauses, suspends, abates, peters (out), winds down, completes, closes (down), deactivates, blockades, blocks, dams, delays, detains, hinders, holds, holds back, impedes, kiboshes, obstructs, stems, calls, brakes, clamps down, reins (in), squashes

Near Antonyms of Ceases

draws out, extends, prolongs, protracts, carries on, follows through (with), keeps up, runs on, advances, proceeds, progresses, actuates, drives, impels, propels, stirs, extensions, persistences, prolongations

Word Forms of Ceases

Inflections: ceased, ceasing

Origin & Etymology of Ceases

Middle English cesen, from Anglo-French cesser, from Latin cessare to hold back, be remiss, frequentative of cedere

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Ceases

Frequently Asked Questions about Ceases

What does "Ceases" mean?

"Ceases" means to cause to come to an end especially gradually, no longer continue. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to cause to come to an end especially gradually, no longer continue. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Ceases"?

Other words for "Ceases" include breaks off, breaks up, closes, concludes, dead-ends, determines, dies and discontinues. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Ceases" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Ceases"?

There are 111 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Ceases". Common alternatives include breaks off, breaks up, closes, concludes, dead-ends, determines, dies, discontinues, elapses and ends.

What is the opposite of "Ceases"?

Antonyms of "Ceases" include continues, hangs on, persists, continuances and continuations. Near antonyms include draws out, extends, prolongs and protracts.

How do you use "Ceases" in a sentence?

Examples of "Ceases" in a sentence: "the rain finally ceased, and we were able to continue the baseball game"; "cease chattering and get down to work, please"; "worked without cease for the betterment of humanity".

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

"Ceases" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Ceases" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Ceases"?

"Ceases" is pronounced /ˈsēs/.