French Conversation · Level 47
73 words
French word
cesser
Pronunciation
IPA/sese/
Meaning
- verbstop
Example
Il a cessé de fumer.
He stopped smoking.
More examples
La pluie a cessé.
The rain stopped.
Core concept
Something in progress comes to an end, whether the stopped thing is an action, activity, or process.
Common phrases
cesser de fumer
stop smoking
cesser de pleuvoir
stop raining
Similar words
arrêter: Stop carrying out an activity that has been continuing.
stopper: Bring an action or habit to an abrupt end.
interrompre: Break off an ongoing action, activity, or conversation temporarily.
abandonner: Drop a plan or activity midway and leave it unfinished.
Definition in French
Interrompre quelque chose; s'emploie souvent avec « de » suivi d'un infinitif.
Word origin
Cesser is inherited through Old French from Latin cessare, a frequentative form of cedere that expressed withdrawing or stopping.
Usage tips
- Cesser can be transitive in formal usage, as in cesser une activité, while cesser de + infinitive is the usual pattern for stopping an action.