# pacify

/ˈpæsəˌfaɪ/ (US) · /pˈæsɪfˌaɪ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pacify
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

to make someone stop being angry or upset. You use this when you want to calm a person or a situation down.

For teachers: to act in a way that causes someone to stop being angry or violent. Transitive — requires a direct object, typically a person or a group.

## Examples

- The nurse tried to pacify the crying baby with a soft toy.
- The manager had to pacify the angry customers by offering them a full refund and a gift card.
- Diplomats worked for weeks to pacify the regional tensions, eventually securing a ceasefire that allowed humanitarian aid to reach the affected population.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.