incessant

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɪnˈsɛsənt/ UK /ɪnˈsɛsənt/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
continuing without pause or interruption

The incessant drip of the tap kept her awake all night.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · continuing without pause or... ceaseless unceasing continual constant relentless unremitting perpetual

Opposites

intermittent occasional sporadic

Word family

Derived forms incessantlyincessancy

Related forms cease cessationincessancy

Etymology

From Late Latin incessans ('unceasing'), from in- ('not') + cessans, present participle of cessare ('to cease, leave off'), frequentative of cedere ('to go, yield').

incessans Late Latin cessare Latin cedere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# incessant

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ɪnˈsɛsənt
**IPA (UK):** ɪnˈsɛsənt

## Meanings
1. continuing without pause or interruption

## Examples
- The incessant drip of the tap kept her awake all night.

## Synonyms
- ceaseless
- unceasing
- continual
- constant
- relentless
- unremitting
- perpetual

## Antonyms
- intermittent
- occasional
- sporadic

## Derived Forms
- incessantly
- incessancy

## Related Forms
- cease
- cessation
- incessancy

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: incessans
- Root: cessare
- Root: cedere

## Etymology
From Late Latin incessans ('unceasing'), from in- ('not') + cessans, present participle of cessare ('to cease, leave off'), frequentative of cedere ('to go, yield').

## AI Etymology
Incessant comes from Late Latin incessans ('unceasing'), from in- ('not') + cessans, present participle of cessare ('to cease, leave off'), frequentative of cedere ('to go, yield'). The historical trail runs through Late Latin incessans, Latin cessare and Latin cedere. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. In modern use it means continuing without pause or interruption. Derived formations include incessantly, incessancy; related forms include cease, cessation, incessancy.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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