1
a
: a period or condition of freedom from storms, high winds, or rough activity of water
a sailing ship motionless in the calm
b
: complete absence of wind or presence of wind having a speed no greater than one mile (1.6 kilometers) per hour see Beaufort Scale Table
2
: a state of tranquility
At dusk a quiet calm settled over the town.
calmed; calming; calms
: to become calm
—usually used with down
The mayor asked the protesters to calm down so he could speak.
: to make calm
—often used with down
calm him down; get him to be reasonable—
S. H. Adams
S. H. Adams1
: marked by calm : still
a calm sea
2
: free from agitation, excitement, or disturbance
calmly
adverb
calmness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of calm in a Sentence
Noun
After two days of violent protests, the mayor appealed for calm.
The calm was broken by another terrorist bombing.
the calm of a church
Police tried to restore calm after the riot.
A quiet calm settled over the city.
Verb
His words were effective in calming her fears.
The medicine helped calm her breathing.
Adjective
The teacher asked us to remain calm after the fire alarm went off.
Let's try to have a calm discussion about your grades.
Recent Examples on the Web
Andreza Araujo, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
For the next five days in the pediatric ward, Nadine vacillated between moments of calm and kicking and screaming, but her vitals were steady.
—J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 7 Dec. 2024
Hanna Park, Robert Shackelford and Mary Gilbert, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Mama Tina Knowles served as a calming presence on the carpet for her granddaughter and looked beautiful in a chic pantsuit.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 10 Dec. 2024
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2024
Children who used to be violent have become calmer, and violence against children has significantly decreased.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for calm 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Organizations that rely on luck to avoid accidents may experience periods of calm, but luck is unpredictable and uncontrollable.
—Andreza Araujo, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
For the next five days in the pediatric ward, Nadine vacillated between moments of calm and kicking and screaming, but her vitals were steady.
—J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 7 Dec. 2024
Verb
In pictures: Franklin Fire burns through Malibu 1 of 18
While strong winds were prevalent late Monday and early Tuesday, conditions began to calm by Tuesday evening.
—Hanna Park, Robert Shackelford and Mary Gilbert, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Mama Tina Knowles served as a calming presence on the carpet for her granddaughter and looked beautiful in a chic pantsuit.
—Dominique Fluker, Essence, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
The show’s continuing appeal hinges largely on Guralnik; her calm demeanor and sharp analytical framing guide the participants (and the audience) toward astute insights about their relationship patterns.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2024
Children who used to be violent have become calmer, and violence against children has significantly decreased.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for calm
Articles Related to calm
Dictionary Entries Near calm
Cite this Entry
“Calm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calm. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
1
a
: a period or state of freedom from storm, wind, or rough water
b
: complete lack of wind or the presence of wind of no more than one mile (1.6 kilometers) per hour
2
: a state of freedom from excitement or disturbance : peacefulness
calm
2 of 3 verb
: to make or become calm
calm
3 of 3 adjective1
: marked by calm : still
a calm sea
2
: free from excitement or disturbance
a calm manner
calmly
adverb
calmness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share