cease
v.v. to stop doing something or to stop happening. It is a more formal way to say 'stop' or 'finish'.
v. to bring to an end or to come to a halt. Often used in legal, academic, or official contexts to describe the termination of an activity or state.
The rain began to cease as the sun came out.
The company was ordered to cease all operations until the safety inspection was complete.
Hostilities between the two nations did not cease until a formal treaty was signed by both heads of state under international supervision.
From Middle English cesen, cessen, from Middle French cesser (“to cease”), from Latin cessō (“leave off”), frequentative of cēdō (“to leave off, go away”). Compare secede.
Can be used both transitively (to cease an action) and intransitively (the action ceases). Often followed by a gerund ('cease fire') or an infinitive ('cease to exist').
The factory ceased from producing smoke.The factory ceased producing smoke.Cease is followed directly by a gerund or an infinitive; it does not take the preposition 'from'.