cease

noun

A surname from German.

(obsolete) Cessation; extinction (see without cease).

verb

(formal, intransitive) To stop.

(formal, transitive) To stop doing (something).

(obsolete, intransitive) To be wanting; to fail; to pass away, perish.

Roots

cedoceas- · Latin · go, yield

Synonyms for cease

discontinuev stopv desistv quitv terminatev cessationn surceasen haltn endn intermitv refrainv finishv subsidev terminationn

Synonyms & related words for cease

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of cease — including discontinue, stop, desist, quit, terminate, cessation. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to cease

Explore words related to cease — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include recommence, discontinuance, commence, discontinuation, forbear, resumed, begin, recommencement. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for cease

Common synonyms for cease include discontinue, stop, desist, quit, terminate, cessation, surcease, halt — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does cease come from?

The word cease breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root ceas-, from Latin cedo (“go, yield”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.