ceased; ceasing
: to cause to come to an end especially gradually : no longer continue
they were forced to cease operations
cease to exist
1
a
: to come to an end
the fighting gradually ceased
b
: to bring an activity or action to an end : discontinue
they have been ordered to cease and desist
2
obsolete
: to become extinct : die out
: cessation
—usually used with without
I kept an eye upon her without cease—
R. L. Stevenson
R. L. StevensonSynonyms
Examples of cease in a Sentence
Verb
The fighting along the border has temporarily ceased.
The factory ceased operations last year.
The child would not cease his constant whining.
Noun
worked without cease for the betterment of humanity
Recent Examples on the WebAlison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2024
Photo: Getty Images In the final, though, expect those antics to cease: Handling Alcaraz will be all-hands-on-deck challenge.
—Corey Seymour, Vogue, 12 July 2024
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 July 2024
The song was set for a March 2024 release, but allegedly, Drake put a legal stop to it with a cease & desist.
—Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for cease 
Verb
The airline, which was founded in 1927 and ceased operations in 1991, will partner with Criterion Travel and Bartelings Associates for a luxurious 12-day journey from New York with stops in Bermuda, Lisbon, Marseille, London, and Foynes in Ireland.
—Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2024
Photo: Getty Images In the final, though, expect those antics to cease: Handling Alcaraz will be all-hands-on-deck challenge.
—Corey Seymour, Vogue, 12 July 2024
Noun
At his press conference on Thursday, Biden countered his debate showing to some extent by delivering substantive answers to complex foreign policy situations, including the war in Ukraine and the potential cease fire in Gaza.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 12 July 2024
The song was set for a March 2024 release, but allegedly, Drake put a legal stop to it with a cease & desist.
—Marc Griffin, VIBE.com, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for cease
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cease.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Cease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cease. Accessed 20 Jul. 2024.
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