calm not getting angry, nervous, or upset, even in a difficult situation:
We’ll talk about this later when you’re feeling calmer. Everyone praised Douglas for the calm way in which he handled the situation.relaxed not worried about anything, especially so that people feel comfortable:
Looking relaxed and confident, the president answered questions from the press. There was a relaxed atmosphere.chilled-out (
also chilled)
informal very relaxed and not worried – used especially by young people:
I’m much more chilled-out about the whole thing this year.laid-back informal someone who is laid-back is always relaxed and never seems to get worried or annoyed about anything:
I like his laid-back attitude to life. My parents are pretty laid-back and don’t mind me staying out late.mellow informal relaxed, friendly, and happy, especially after drinking alcohol:
After a few drinks, everyone was pretty mellow.cool informal staying calm and not showing your emotions, especially when other people are getting excited or angry:
He is the kind of player who always manages to stay cool, even under pressure. She was as cool as a cucumber (=very cool).keep your head to manage to stay calm and behave in a sensible way in a difficult or frightening situation:
In this job you need to be good at keeping your head in a crisis.peace a situation in which there is no war or fighting:
There has been peace in the region for six years now.truce an agreement to stop fighting or arguing with each other for a limited period of time:
The rebels have ended a 17-month-old truce. He called for a truce between Israeli and Palestinian forces. There was an uneasy truce between Lily and Stephen at dinner.ceasefire an agreement to stop fighting for a limited period of time, especially in order to discuss making peace:
The two sides agreed to a ceasefire which would come into force immediately.armistice a formal agreement to stop fighting a war and to discuss making peace:
The Korean armistice was signed in July 1953.still not moving – use this especially about people who are not moving, or about places where there is no wind:
There was no wind and the trees were completely still. Keep still while I tie your shoes.stationary not moving – use this about cars, trains, or objects:
The truck swerved and hit a stationary vehicle.immobile not moving or not able to move, especially because of fear or tiredness:
As the disease progressed, she became increasingly immobile.motionless completely still – used especially in literature:
Kemp sat motionless as the verdict was read.be at a standstill if traffic is at a standstill it is not moving:
Traffic was at a standstill on the motorway. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲
move to go to a different place, or change the position of your body:
Sarah moved away from the window. Every time I move I get a pain in my left shoulder.sway to move slowly from one side to the other:
The branches swayed in the wind. Donny swayed drunkenly as he walked back to his car.rock to move repeatedly from one side to another, with small gentle movements:
He rocked backward and forward in his chair. The boat rocked from side to side with the waves.wobble to move unsteadily from side to side:
The bike wobbled a bit, but she soon got it under control.fidget to keep moving or playing with your fingers, hands, feet etc, because you are bored or nervous:
Diana fidgeted nervously with her pencil.squirm to make very small movements from side to side with your body, especially because you feel uncomfortable:
By the end of the hour, most of the children were squirming in their seats.wriggle to make small movements from side to side, especially in order to get into or out of something:
The dog wriggled under the fence and escaped into the street. She managed to wriggle into the dress, but it was much too tight.twitch if part of your body twitches, it makes small movements that you cannot control:
A muscle on Yang’s face twitched.stir written to make a movement – used especially when describing a situation in which no one moves, or someone wakes up:
In the village a dog barked but no one stirred The sleeping child stirred and opened her eyes.budge to move – used when you are trying hard to make something move, often without success:
The piano wouldn’t budge.relocate to move to a different place – used about companies, organizations, and people who work for them:
NATO’s main headquarters relocated to Brussels. Klein is relocating to London to head up the investment banking team.still not moving – use this especially about people who are not moving, or about places where there is no wind:
There was no wind and the trees were completely still. Keep still while I tie your shoes.stationary not moving – use this about cars, trains, or objects:
The truck swerved and hit a stationary vehicle.immobile not moving or not able to move, especially because of fear or tiredness:
As the disease progressed, she became increasingly immobile.motionless completely still – used especially in literature:
Kemp sat motionless as the verdict was read.calm not moving because there is no wind – use this about air and water:
The lake was calm.be at a standstill if traffic is at a standstill it is not moving:
Traffic was at a standstill on the motorway.make a move We made the move mainly for financial reasons.make no move The government made no move to hold the promised elections.welcome the move Environmentalists welcomed the move to limit the length of fishing nets.oppose a move Union members have opposed the move.support a move The move was supported by the government.a move is aimed at doing something/is designed to do something The move is aimed at strengthening its business in the region.an important move I cannot decide on such an important move on my own.a bold/daring move (=taking a lot of courage) The writers made a bold move by kiling off the main character.a good/smart/wise move (=sensible) I’m not sure it was a good move giving him the job.the right move He hoped he had made the right move in telling his father.an unprecedented move (=never having happened before) Barcelona began the unprecedented move of shipping in drinking water.sb’s next move (=the next thing someone does) What should happen next? What’s our next move?a bad move It was a bad move letting him come here in the first place.a false/wrong move (=made by mistake) One wrong move and the business might never recover.the first move She waited for Michael to make the first move.a career move (=a decision that will improve the type of job you can do) It looked like a good career move, with the possibility of promotion later.there are moves afoot to do something British English (=there are plans, especially secret ones, to do something) There are moves afoot to change things.a move in the right direction The decision seemed to be a move in the right direction.watch/follow sb’s every move His eyes followed Cissy’s every move.a sudden move She made a sudden move towards me from the doorway.action noun [countable] something that someone does:
He is responsible for his own actions. They refused to give a reason for their actions.act noun [countable] a particular type of action:
violent acts ⇒
act of violence/kindness/defiance etc:
I believe the killing was an act of desperation.activities noun [plural] things that people do, especially for enjoyment or to achieve an aim:
leisure activities political activities Surveys may not give a true picture of people’s activities.behaviour British English,
behavior American English noun [uncountable] the things that someone does and the way they behave:
Do you think that advertisements really influence people’s behaviour? The man’s behaviour seemed rather odd.step noun [countable] one of a series of things that you do in order to deal with a problem or to succeed:
The first step is to make sure we have got funding for the project. We must take steps to make sure that this does not happen again. This is an important step towards peace.measure noun [countable] an official action that is intended to deal with a particular problem:
There are increased security measures at airports. The school was closed as a precautionary measure following a chemical leak.gesture noun [countable] something that you do to show how you feel about someone or something:
Do you think it would be a nice gesture to send her some flowers? ⇒
gesture of goodwill/solidarity/defiance:
The company gave us £100 as a gesture of goodwill.deed noun [countable] especially literary an action, especially one that is very good or very bad:
evil deeds heroic deeds This is my good deed for the day.exploits noun [plural] formal exciting or brave actions:
daring exploits His exploits were legendary.feat noun [countable] something someone does that people admire because you need a lot of skill, courage, or strength to do it:
Completing a marathon is a remarkable feat for a six-year-old. The bridge is a great feat of engineering. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲