calm
/kɑːm/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Calm means quiet, peaceful, and not worried or angry. A calm person or place feels relaxed and steady.
- She stayed calm during the interview.
- The sea was calm this morning.
- Please remain calm and wait here.
verb
To calm someone or something is to make them less upset, noisy, or active. It can also mean to become less upset yourself.
- He tried to calm the child.
- Her voice calmed me down.
- The wind calmed after midnight.
noun
Calm is a state of quiet, peace, or lack of strong emotion. It is the opposite of panic or excitement.
- There was a strange calm before the storm.
- His calm helped the whole team.
- We need calm in this room.
Adinary Nuance
Calm is gentler and more neutral than relaxed or peaceful. Use calm for control of emotions, weather, or behaviour, not just comfort. It is also less formal than composed, which often sounds more deliberate and polished.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bình tĩnh
- Spanish
- tranquilo
- Chinese
- 平静
- Japanese
- 落ち着いた
- Korean
- 차분한
Etymology
Calm came into English in the 16th century from French calme, which came from Italian calmo. The deeper source is probably Greek kauma, meaning 'heat' or 'hot still air.'
Common phrases
keep calmstay calmcalm downa calm voice
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is calm a positive word?
- Yes. It usually suggests peace, control, and low stress.
- What is the difference between calm and peaceful?
- Calm often describes a person, mood, or situation with no excitement. Peaceful usually suggests harmony or no conflict.
- Can I say calm down to a person?
- Yes, but it can sound rude if said sharply. A softer phrase is 'please stay calm.'
- Is calm used in formal writing?
- Yes. It is common in speaking, news reports, and academic writing.