MEANING
To cease an action or refrain from continuing it.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- desist from interference
- cease and desist
On the page
The warning required them to desist from further interference.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- desist
- Past tense
- desisted
- Past participle
- desisted
- Present participle
- desisting
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- desist
- Present continuous
- am/is/are desisting
- Present perfect
- have/has desisted
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been desisting
- Past
- desisted
- Past continuous
- was/were desisting
- Past perfect
- had desisted
- Past perfect continuous
- had been desisting
- Future
- will desist
- Future continuous
- will be desisting
- Future perfect
- will have desisted
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been desisting
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: desist; desists; desisted; desisted; desisting Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: description, character, dialogue. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: desists.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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