What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
cease
Example
The rain finally ceased, and the sun came out. [cease: verb]
Example
They called for a cease-fire to stop the fighting. [cease: noun]
stop
Example
Please stop talking and listen to me. [stop: verb]
Example
I missed my bus because I didn't see the stop sign. [stop: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stop is more commonly used than cease in everyday language. Stop is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while cease is less common and tends to be used in more formal or official settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between cease and stop?
While cease is typically associated with a more formal tone, stop is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.