calm
calm — adjective
1. feeling or showing no strong anger, worry, or excitement — describes a person's
feeling or showing no strong anger, worry, or excitement — describes a person's state when things that would usually upset them do not.
Leila stayed calm during the interview even when the questions got difficult.
stayed calm + during [stressful situation]
The nurse spoke in a calm voice to the frightened child in the emergency room.
calm voice — adjective before noun describing manner
Kofi took a deep breath and told himself to keep calm as he stepped onto the stage for his presentation.
Ravi took a few deep breaths and felt calm again after the argument.
用法筆記
Frequently used in the fixed phrases 'keep calm', 'stay calm', and 'remain calm' as imperatives or after advising verbs.
常見錯誤
2. happening without fast movement, loud noise, or signs of busy activity — describ
happening without fast movement, loud noise, or signs of busy activity — describes a place or action that takes place in a slow and steady way.
After the children left for school, the house was calm and quiet all morning.
calm and quiet — paired collocation for stillness
The wedding ceremony was a calm affair, with soft music and no rushing around.
Yusuf made a calm exit from the meeting, closing the door softly behind him.
The library had a calm atmosphere that made it easy for everyone to study.
用法筆記
This sense describes the quality of a situation or environment, not a person's inner feelings. If the subject is a person, this sense refers to the unhurried, noiseless quality of their movement, not their emotional state (see sense 1 for that).
3. describes weather conditions without strong wind, or a body of water whose surfa
describes weather conditions without strong wind, or a body of water whose surface is smooth because no wind disturbs it.
The sea was so calm that the boat barely moved for two hours.
calm sea — fixed collocation for smooth water
On calm winter days the lake looks like a giant sheet of glass.
calm + days — used with weather periods
The ferry crossed the channel on a calm, sunny morning with almost no wind.
The wind dropped and the bay became calm enough for the children to paddle safely.
用法筆記
Only used to describe weather conditions and bodies of water. Do not use this sense for a person's emotional state. The noun form 'the calm' also refers to a period of smooth weather (see noun/1).
常見錯誤
calm — verb
1. to help a person or an animal that is strongly bothered return to a peaceful emo
to help a person or an animal that is strongly bothered return to a peaceful emotional state — for example, by speaking gently, touching, or giving them space.
The mother picked up her crying baby and calmed him with a soft song.
calm + someone + with [method]
The teacher calmed the noisy class by asking everyone to breathe slowly.
Priya gave the frightened dog a treat and spoke gently until she had calmed it.
A warm bath often helps to calm an overactive toddler before bedtime.
文法句型
calm + noun phrase (person/animal)
用法筆記
Frequently used with a direct object (someone or something). The phrasal verb 'calm down' (see phrasal verbs) is more common in everyday spoken English for this meaning.
常見錯誤
2. to remove or reduce someone's anxiety about a specific matter, typically by givi
to remove or reduce someone's anxiety about a specific matter, typically by giving them facts or evidence that show there is nothing to fear.
The doctor calmed Wen by explaining that the test results showed nothing serious.
calm + someone + by [giving information]
Hiro tried to calm his parents by showing them his plan for a new job.
A short phone call from the airline calmed passengers worried about their delayed flight.
The counsellor calmed the teenager by listening to her problems without judging.
- reassure
more specific — emphasises removing doubt rather than reducing emotion
- set someone's mind at rest
idiomatic — stronger emphasis on removing worry
- comfort
warmer — includes emotional support beyond facts
文法句型
calm + someone (by telling/showing them something)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is for strong emotions (anger, panic, excitement), while sense 2 is for specific worries or doubts. This sense is often followed by 'by' + explanation of what relieved the worry.
3. to return to a peaceful emotional state after being upset, angry, or excited — t
to return to a peaceful emotional state after being upset, angry, or excited — the person or situation changes from agitated to quiet by itself or with help.
After ten minutes of deep breathing, the woman in the waiting room finally calmed.
finally calmed — intransitive use with time adverbial
The crowd outside the stadium calmed once the match result was announced.
crowd + calmed — group of people as subject
Nadia watched the storm from her window and waited for the wind to calm.
The puppy calmed as soon as Aiko picked her up and wrapped her in a towel.
- settle down
phrasal verb — more informal and common in everyday speech
- relax
implies releasing tension rather than reducing high agitation
- subside
more formal — used for emotions or weather conditions
文法句型
calm (no object) — often with 'down'
用法筆記
This intransitive sense is less common in everyday speech than the phrasal verb 'calm down'. 'The wind calmed' (weather returning to stillness) belongs to this sense. For a person, 'calmed' alone sounds slightly formal; 'calmed down' is more natural.
calm — noun
1. a stretch of time when there is no trouble, no strong activity, or no bad weathe
a stretch of time when there is no trouble, no strong activity, or no bad weather — a quiet period after or between storms, arguments, or busy events.
There was a brief calm after the rain stopped and before the wind returned.
a brief calm — period noun phrase with adjective
The neighbours agreed to a week of calm while they waited for the court ruling.
a calm — countable use for a period of peace
The tourist season created chaos, but autumn brought a welcome calm to the old town.
After months of fighting, a fragile calm finally settled over the region.
- stillness
focus is on absence of movement, not necessarily peace
- tranquillity
more formal and literary
- lull
temporary pause in activity, often implies it will end soon
用法筆記
Often used with an indefinite article ('a calm') or with 'the' ('the calm'). The phrase 'the calm before the storm' is a common idiom meaning a quiet period before something bad happens (see idioms).
常見錯誤
2. the quality of behaving or speaking in a relaxed, controlled way even in a situa
the quality of behaving or speaking in a relaxed, controlled way even in a situation that is stressful or unexpected — the personal ability to stay unruffled.
The pilot kept her calm throughout the emergency landing, which saved many lives.
kept her calm — possessive + calm as uncountable noun
Beatriz showed remarkable calm when her laptop crashed right before the presentation.
showed remarkable calm — adjective + calm (uncountable)
It took all of Dimitri's calm to answer the rude customer without losing his temper.
The police officer's calm during the protest helped prevent the situation from turning violent.
- composure
nearly identical — slightly more formal than 'calm' for this sense
- self-control
emphasises the effort of restraining emotions
- poise
graceful composure, especially in social situations
用法筆記
Uncountable in this sense. Typically used after verbs like 'keep', 'show', 'maintain', 'lose' followed by possessive ('her calm', 'his calm'). More formal than the adjective form. 'Calmness' is an alternative noun for this meaning.