cease

/siːs/

Group 26Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(verb)
To come or bring to an end
GRE

Example in Context

Hostilities were expected to cease at midnight under the terms of the agreement, though observers remained skeptical about enforcement.

Synonyms

stophaltend

Etymology

To stop doing something completely.

  • cessare (Latin) — to stop

Memory Aid

👀Sounds like “see's

When the cat SEE'S the dog, it CEASES all activity and freezes!

Visual Association

🛑A stop sign suddenly appearing in the middle of a lively street party, causing everything to halt.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “cease” mean on the GRE?

cease (verb) means “To come or bring to an end”. Hostilities were expected to cease at midnight under the terms of the agreement, though observers remained skeptical about enforcement.

How to remember “cease” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “cease” sounds like “see's”. When the cat SEE'S the dog, it CEASES all activity and freezes!

What are synonyms for “cease”?

Common synonyms: stop, halt, end.