What is cease? Pronunciation and usage in English

cease means . Learn how to pronounce and use cease through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of cease

ceaseverb

/siːs/
Definition & pronunciation of cease

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "cease." It's a tricky one for many English learners! Here's a breakdown:

The most common and generally accepted pronunciation is:

  • sɪs (like "miss")

Let's break that down further:

  • "si" – pronounced like the word "miss" – the "s" is very subtle.
  • "s" – pronounced like the "s" in "sun."

Here's a phonetic transcription (more technical): /ˌsiːs/

Tips for getting it right:

  • Stress: The stress is on the first syllable ("si").
  • Vowel sound: Focus on the sound of “sɪ” like in “miss”. Don't say "c" as a separate syllable.
  • Don’t overemphasize the “c”: Many people add an extra "c" sound, which is incorrect. It's a softer "s" sound.

Resources to hear the pronunciation:

Would you like me to:

  • Record myself saying "cease"?
  • Give you some example sentences using the word?

Usage and examples with the word cease in English

Let's break down how to use the word "cease" in English. It's a fairly formal word, often used in writing or more serious speaking situations.

1. Basic Meaning:

  • To stop: This is the most fundamental meaning. "Cease" means to stop doing something, to bring something to an end.

2. Common Uses & Examples:

  • Formal Commands/Instructions: This is where you'll most often encounter "cease." It implies a strong and authoritative instruction to stop.

    • "Cease all construction immediately!" (a building supervisor)
    • "Cease fire!" (a military order)
    • "Cease and desist" – a legal term meaning “stop doing something.” (e.g., "The company sent a cease and desist letter to the competitor.")

  • Ending an Activity or Process:

    • "The rain ceased after a few hours." (stopped)
    • "He ceased complaining." (stopped complaining)
    • "The negotiations ceased to be productive." (stopped being productive)

  • To Stop Existing or Being Active: (Often used with things like processes or sensations)

    • “The disease ceased to progress.” (stopped getting worse)
    • “The pain ceased to be noticeable.” (stopped being felt)

3. "Cease and Desist" - A Legal Phrase:

  • This is a very important and specific usage. It's a formal legal notice demanding that someone immediately stop a particular activity. It's almost always written by a lawyer.
    • "The copyright holder sent a cease and desist letter to the website for distributing pirated copies of the movie."

4. Grammatical Forms:

  • Base Form: cease (stop)
  • Past Tense: ceased (stopped) – Note the ‘c’ is doubled in the past tense.
  • Present Participle/Gerund: ceasing (currently stopping)
  • Past Participle: ceased (having stopped)

5. Synonyms (Words with similar meanings):

  • Stop
  • Halt
  • End
  • Quit
  • Discontinue
  • Terminate

6. When Not to Use It:

"Cease" is quite formal. You’ll rarely hear it in everyday conversation. “Stop” is almost always a better choice for casual speech.

Here's a quick summary table:

Form Meaning Example
cease to stop "Please cease talking."
ceased stopped (past tense) "He ceased his argument."
ceasing stopping (present) "The storm is ceasing."
ceased having stopped (past participle) "The treaty had ceased negotiations."

To help me give you more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you thinking of using "cease" in? (e.g., a formal letter, a story, a conversation?)

Synonyms for the word cease

Idioms of the word cease

wonders will never cease
(informal, usually ironic)a phrase used to express surprise and pleasure at something
  • ‘I've cleaned my room.’ ‘Wonders will never cease!’

Practice with vocabulary cease

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The company decided to __________ production due to financial difficulties.
  2. If the rain doesn’t __________ soon, we’ll have to cancel the outdoor event.
  3. The manager requested that all employees __________ procrastinating and focus on their tasks.
  4. The noise from the construction site will __________ by evening, so we can expect some peace.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. Which of the following words means "to stop or bring to an end"?
    a) Continue
    b) Cease
    c) Pause
    d) Halt

  2. Select the word that fits best: "The treaty was designed to __________ hostilities between the two nations."
    a) Cease
    b) Start
    c) Intensify
    d) Ignore

  3. Which word is not a synonym of "stop"?
    a) Halt
    b) Cease
    c) Begin
    d) Pause

  4. Identify the correct word: "The teacher asked the students to __________ talking during the exam."
    a) Begin
    b) Continue
    c) Cease
    d) Encourage

  5. Which word fits the sentence: "The government must __________ corruption to restore public trust."
    a) End
    b) Cease
    c) Promote
    d) Ignore

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: The company will stop its operations next month.
    Rewrite: The company will __________ its operations next month.

  2. Original: The noise from the party lasted until midnight.
    Rewrite: The noise from the party did not __________ until midnight.

  3. Original: The manager instructed the team to pause their work temporarily.
    Rewrite: The manager instructed the team to __________ their work temporarily.

Answer:

Exercise 1:

  1. cease
  2. cease
  3. stop
  4. end

Exercise 2:

  1. b) Cease, d) Halt
  2. a) Cease
  3. c) Begin
  4. c) Cease
  5. a) End, b) Cease

Exercise 3:

  1. The company will cease its operations next month.
  2. The noise from the party did not cease until midnight.
  3. The manager instructed the team to halt their work temporarily.

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