unceasing
un-SEES-ing
/ʌnˈsiːsɪŋ/
Not coming to an end; continuous.
Very similar to 'incessant' but slightly more poetic and less necessarily negative. It often describes natural forces.
The story behind the word. A combination of the Old English prefix 'un-' (not) and the verb 'cease' (from Latin 'cessare').
Word relationships
- endless: Endless is more common and less formal.
- perpetual: Perpetual implies a more permanent, law-of-nature status.
- finite: Finite means having a definite end.
Commonly confused with
- intermittent: Unceasing means no breaks; intermittent is all about breaks.
Word family
- cease (verb): To stop.
Collocations
- unceasing effort
- unceasing noise
- unceasing flow
Example sentences
- "The unceasing waves battered the rocky cliffs for centuries." Describing the ocean.
- "Her unceasing devotion to her children was admired by everyone in the village." Describing human effort.
Memory hook
Un-Ceasing = Not-Stopping. It's as simple as that. The tide coming in and out.
When not to use
Too formal for casual conversation. You wouldn't say 'The unceasing traffic' to a friend; you'd say 'The constant traffic'.
Fun facts
- The word 'unceasing' is often used in religious texts to describe prayer or devotion.
Explore more words
incessant, perpetual, relentless, unflagging, indefatigable, Unyielding
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