calm

C3A1L1M3
US/kɑm/US/kɑlm/US/kɔm/US/kɔlm/

adjective

Peaceful, quiet, especially free from anger and anxiety.

Similar
steadycollectedcomposedcool-headedequableequanimousequanimitableeven-keeled
Opposite
stressednervousanxiousdisturbedwindy
OriginMiddle English calm ← Middle French calme ← Old Italian calma →
CommonScrabble 8
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

calm1

adjectivecalm (comparative calmer or more calm, superlative calmest or most calm)

comparative calmer · comparative more calm · superlative calmest · superlative most calm · alternative obsolete calme

  1. Peaceful, quiet, especially free from anger and anxiety.

    Antonyms: stressed, nervous, anxious

  2. Free of noise and disturbance.

    Calm is the morn without a sound, ⁠Calm as to suit a calmer grief, ⁠And only thro’ the faded leaf The chestnut pattering to the ground: […]

    1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC

    Antonyms: disturbed

  3. with few or no waves on the surface; not rippled.
  4. Without wind or storm.

    Antonyms: windy, stormy

  5. Multicultural London EnglishslangGood; alright; cool; OK.

    Been living my life as a Kingpin. I'm calm with the heat of the kitchen.

    2019 May 9, “Bullet from a Gun” (track 1), in Ignorance is Bliss, performed by Skepta
    3 more examples

    Hi, welcome to Puma. If you need any help, my name's Kelly. That's calm, man[…]Thirty pounds is the limit, I think you'll pay no more, I'm sorry. Aight, fuck it! What, can I do chip and pin. Calm, I'ma put my pin in like boom!

    2017, “Uber Everywhere Freestyle 2”performed by Cadet (rapper)

    Flexed up like they really move pally (Pally). I don't want ish just at me (At me). I just want money, that's calm (Calm). Teenager, never worry 'bout acne (Finch Fetti, Finch Fetti)

    2021 January 17, “Own Brand Freestyle” (track 24), in Beijing Winter Games 2022, performed by FelixThe1st, Dreya Mac, Finch Fetti

    I really hit for the long ting, calm (Ha, ha). Who would've thought you woulda heard Yung Filly on drill (Filly on drill).

    2021 October 15, “100 Bags Freestyle”performed by Yung Filly
nouncalm (countable and uncountable, plural calms)

plural calms · alternative obsolete calme

  1. countableuncountableThe state of being calm; peacefulness; absence of worry, anger, fear or other strong negative emotion.

    Calm on the seas, and silver sleep, ⁠And waves that sway themselves in rest, ⁠And dead calm in that noble breast Which heaves but with the heaving deep.

    1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto XI”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC
  2. countableuncountableThe state of being calm; absence of noise and disturbance.
  3. countableuncountableclimatologyThe absence of wind; a period of time without wind.

    The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Mark 4:39
    1 more example

    It was a calm ; so, forming a tandem of three boats, we commenced the slow business of towing the trophy to the Pequod.

    1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 64, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC, page 324
verbcalm (third-person singular simple present calms, present participle calming, simple past and past participle calmed)

present singular third person calms · participle present calming · participle past calmed · past calmed · alternative obsolete calme

  1. transitiveTo make calm.

    to calm the passions

    2 more examples

    to calm a crying baby

    to calm the tempest raised by Aeolus

    1697, Virgil, “(please specify the book number)”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC
  2. intransitiveTo become calm.

CALM2

nounCALM (plural CALMs)

plural CALMs

  1. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of café au lait macule.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivePeaceful, quiet, especially free from anger and anxiety.

Opposite
stressednervousanxious

adjectiveFree of noise and disturbance.

Opposite
disturbed

adjectiveWithout wind or storm.

Opposite
windystormy
Similar
steadycollectedcomposedcool-headedequableequanimousequanimitableeven-keeledeven-mindedeven-temperedimperturbablelaid-backlevel-headedmellowpacatepacificpeaceablepeacefulphlegmaticplacidquiescentquietrelaxedrooliesedateserenestilltranquilunexcitedunfazedunflappableunflusteredunperturbableunruffableunruffleduntumultuous
Opposite
angrypeevish
Broader
inactive
Narrower
carefree
Similar
allayappeasecalm downcool offeasepacifyquietensoothesubdue
Opposite
agitateexcite

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivenot agitated; without losing self-possession

Similar
unagitatedserenetranquilcomposed

adjective(of weather) free from storm or wind

Similar
placidquietstillsettledwindless
Opposite
stormy

nounsteadiness of mind under stress

Similar
composurecalmnessequanimity
Broader
dispositiontemperament

nounwind moving at less than 1 knot; 0 on the Beaufort scale

Similar
calm air
Broader
windair currentcurrent of air

verbmake calm or still

Similar
calm downquiettranquilizetranquillizetranquillisequietenlullstill
Opposite
agitate
Broader
comfortsootheconsole

verbmake steady

Similar
steadybecalm
Broader
stabilizestabilise

verbbecome quiet or calm, especially after a state of agitation

Similar
calm downcool offchill outsimmer downsettle downcool it
Broader
change stateturn

verbcause to be calm or quiet as by administering a sedative to

Similar
sedatetranquilizetranquillizetranquillise
Broader
affect
Also see
abstemiousallayappeasebecalmbring downcalm downcalmnesschill outcollectedcomposedcomposurecool as a cucumbercool-headedcool itcool offdelayequanimityequanimouseven-keeledeven-mindedeven-temperedhalcyonimperturbablelevel-headedlullmellowmildmollifypacatepacificpacifypeaceablepeacefulpeace of mindplacidquietquietenrelaxedreposerooliesedateserenesettledsettle downsimmer downsmoothsobersoothesteadystilltemperatetranquiltranquilizetranquillityunagitatedunexcitedunruffleduntumultuouswindless

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latincaleō
  2. Ancient Greekκαῦμα“heat, especially of the sun”
  3. Late Latincauma“heat of the midday sun”
  4. Old Italiancalma
  5. Middle Frenchcalme
  6. Middle Englishcalm
  7. Englishcalm

From Middle English calm, calme, from Middle French calme, probably from Old Italian calma, of uncertain origin. Calma may derive from Late Latin cauma (“heat of the midday sun”), from Ancient Greek καῦμα (kaûma, “heat, especially of the sun”), from καίω (kaíō, “to burn”), or possibly from Latin caleō. Compare also Lombardic *chalm, *chalma (“frozenness”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *kalmaz (“frozenness, cold”). Displaced native Middle English smilte (“quiet, still, gentle”) from Old English smylte (“quiet, tranquil, calm, serene”).

More words from Middle English, Middle French, Old Italian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek γαληνός, γαληνός
  • γαληνός (galēnós)free from anger and anxiety
  • γαληνός (galēnós)(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • ἡσυχία (hēsukhía)the state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • γαλήνη (galḗnē)period without wind
Arabic هَادِئ, طَمْأَنَ
  • هَادِئ (hādiʔ)free from anger and anxiety
  • طَمْأَنَ (ṭamʔana)to make calm
Bulgarian спокоен, тих
  • спокоен (spokoen)free from anger and anxiety
  • тих (tih)free of noise and disturbance
  • мирен (miren)free of noise and disturbance
  • безветрен (bezvetren)without wind or storm
  • спокойствие (spokojstvie)condition of being unworried and free from anger
  • покой (pokoj)condition of being unworried and free from anger
  • тишина (tišina)the state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • безветрие (bezvetrie)period without wind
  • затишие (zatišie)period without wind
  • успокоявам (uspokojavam)to make calm
  • усмирявам (usmirjavam)to make calm
  • успокоявам се (uspokojavam se)to become calm
  • стихвам (stihvam)to become calm
Catalan calm, calm
  • calmfree from anger and anxiety
  • calmfree of noise and disturbance
  • calmacondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • calmathe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • calmaperiod without wind
  • calmarto make calm
  • calmarto become calm
Chinese Mandarin 平靜 /平静, 安靜 /安静
  • 平靜 /平静 (píngjìng)free from anger and anxiety
  • 安靜 /安静 (ānjìng)free from anger and anxiety
  • 平靜 /平静 (píngjìng)condition of being unworried and free from anger
Czech klidný, klidný
  • klidnýfree from anger and anxiety
  • klidnýfree of noise and disturbance
  • klidcondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • uklidnitto make calm
  • uklidnitto become calm
Danish rolig, rolig
  • roligfree from anger and anxiety
  • roligfree of noise and disturbance
  • stillefree of noise and disturbance
  • stille(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • rocondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • rothe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • stilhedthe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • vindstilleperiod without wind
  • beroligeto make calm
  • blive stilleto become calm
  • blive roligto become calm
Dutch vredig, kalm
  • vredigfree from anger and anxiety
  • kalmfree from anger and anxiety
  • kalmfree of noise and disturbance
  • rustigfree of noise and disturbance
  • kalm(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • windstilwithout wind or storm
  • sereniteitcondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • rustthe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • windstilteperiod without wind
  • kalmerento make calm
  • gerust stellento make calm
  • afkoelento become calm
  • kalmerento become calm
Esperanto trankvila, serena
  • trankvilafree from anger and anxiety
  • serenafree of noise and disturbance
Estonian tuulevaikus
  • tuulevaikusperiod without wind
Finnish rauhallinen, tyyni
  • rauhallinenfree from anger and anxiety
  • tyynifree from anger and anxiety
  • levollinenfree from anger and anxiety
  • rauhallinenfree of noise and disturbance
  • tyynifree of noise and disturbance
  • levollinenfree of noise and disturbance
  • tyyni(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • tyyniwithout wind or storm
  • rauhallisuuscondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • tyyneyscondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • levollisuuscondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • rauhallisuusthe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • tyyneysthe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • levollisuusthe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • tyvenperiod without wind
  • tyyniperiod without wind
  • pläkäperiod without wind
  • tyynnyttääto make calm
  • rauhoittaato make calm
  • tyyntyäto become calm
  • rauhoittuato become calm
French calme, calme
  • calmefree from anger and anxiety
  • calmefree of noise and disturbance
  • tranquillefree of noise and disturbance
  • calmewithout wind or storm
  • calme platperiod without wind
  • calmeperiod without wind
  • calmerto make calm
  • apaiserto make calm
German ruhig, ruhig
  • ruhigfree from anger and anxiety
  • ruhigfree of noise and disturbance
  • windstillwithout wind or storm
  • Ruhethe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • Windstilleperiod without wind
  • beruhigento make calm
  • ruhig stellento make calm
Greek ήρεμος, γαλήνιος
  • ήρεμος (íremos)free from anger and anxiety
  • γαλήνιος (galínios)free of noise and disturbance
  • ηρεμία (iremía)condition of being unworried and free from anger
  • γαλήνη (galíni)the state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • ησυχία (isychía)the state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • ηρεμώ (iremó)to make calm
Hebrew רגוע, שליו
  • רגוע (ragúa)free from anger and anxiety
  • שליו (shalév)free of noise and disturbance
  • דִּמְמַת רוּחַ (dim'mát rúakh)(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • גַּלֵּינֵי (galéine)(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • שְׁטִיל (shtil)(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • רוגע (róga)condition of being unworried and free from anger
  • שלווה (shalvá)the state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • הרגיע (hirgía)to make calm
  • נרגע (nirgá)to become calm
Hindi शांत, शांत
  • शांत (śānt)free from anger and anxiety
  • शांत (śānt)free of noise and disturbance
  • शांत (śānt)(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
Hungarian nyugodt, csendes
  • nyugodtfree from anger and anxiety
  • csendesfree of noise and disturbance
  • szélcsendperiod without wind
  • megnyugtatto make calm
  • lecsendesítto make calm
  • megnyugszikto become calm
  • lecsendesülto become calm
Irish suaimhneach, socair
  • suaimhneachfree from anger and anxiety
  • socairfree from anger and anxiety
  • suaimhneachfree of noise and disturbance
  • socairfree of noise and disturbance
  • ciúinfree of noise and disturbance
Italian calmo
  • calmofree from anger and anxiety
Japanese 穏やかな, 静かな
  • 穏やかな (odayaka na)free from anger and anxiety
  • 静かな (shizuka na)free from anger and anxiety
  • 平穏な (heion na)free from anger and anxiety
  • 平穏な (heion na)free of noise and disturbance
  • 泰平な (taihei na)free of noise and disturbance
  • 平静な (heisei na)free of noise and disturbance
  • 穏やかな (odayaka na)without wind or storm
  • 無風の (mufū no)without wind or storm
  • 平穏 (heion)condition of being unworried and free from anger
  • 平静 (heisei)condition of being unworried and free from anger
  • 平安 (heian)the state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • 平静 (heisei)the state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • 無風 (mufū)period without wind
  • 静める (shizumeru)to make calm
  • なだめるto make calm
  • 静まる (shizumaru)to become calm
Korean 고요하다, 잠잠하다
  • 고요하다 (goyohada)free from anger and anxiety
  • 잠잠하다 (jamjamhada)free from anger and anxiety
Latin tranquillus, sēdātus
  • tranquillusfree from anger and anxiety
  • sēdātusfree from anger and anxiety
  • placidusfree from anger and anxiety
  • tranquillusfree of noise and disturbance
  • placidusfree of noise and disturbance
  • quiēsthe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • malaciaperiod without wind
  • sēdōto make calm
Latvian rāms
  • rāmsfree from anger and anxiety
Lithuanian ramus
  • ramusfree from anger and anxiety
Malay tenang, tenang
  • tenangfree from anger and anxiety
  • tenang(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
Māori āio, mauritau
  • āiofree from anger and anxiety
  • mauritaufree from anger and anxiety
  • āiofree of noise and disturbance
  • āio(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • hāro(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • marino(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • tāhengihengiwithout wind or storm
  • mārūwithout wind or storm
  • rahopēperiod without wind
  • āioperiod without wind
  • rokito make calm
  • whakarokirokito make calm
  • whakarangimārieto make calm
Norwegian roe seg
  • roe segto become calm
Norwegian Bokmål rolig, rolig
  • roligfree from anger and anxiety
  • roligfree of noise and disturbance
  • fredeligfree of noise and disturbance
  • vindstillewithout wind or storm
  • roeto make calm
  • beroligeto make calm
Persian آرام
  • آرام (ârâm)free from anger and anxiety
Polish spokojny, opanowany
  • spokojnyfree from anger and anxiety
  • opanowanyfree from anger and anxiety
  • cichyfree of noise and disturbance
  • spokojnyfree of noise and disturbance
  • spokojny(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • spokójcondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • spokójthe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • ciszaperiod without wind
  • flautaperiod without wind
  • uspokajaćto make calm
  • uspokoićto make calm
  • uspokajać sięto become calm
  • uspokoić sięto become calm
Portuguese tranquilo, calmo
  • tranquilofree from anger and anxiety
  • calmofree from anger and anxiety
  • sossegadofree from anger and anxiety
  • tranquilofree of noise and disturbance
  • calmofree of noise and disturbance
  • tranquilo(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • calmo(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • calmacondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • calmathe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • tranquilidadethe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • sossegothe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • calmariaperiod without wind
  • acalmarto make calm
  • acalmar-seto become calm
  • ficar calmoto become calm
Romanian liniștit, calm
  • liniștitfree from anger and anxiety
  • calmfree from anger and anxiety
  • liniștitfree of noise and disturbance
  • calmfree of noise and disturbance
  • seninfree of noise and disturbance
  • liniștit(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • calm(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • liniștitwithout wind or storm
  • calmwithout wind or storm
  • seninwithout wind or storm
  • liniștecondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • liniștethe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • liniștito make calm
  • calmato make calm
  • potolito make calm
Russian споко́йный, ти́хий
  • споко́йный (spokójnyj)free from anger and anxiety
  • ти́хий (tíxij)free from anger and anxiety
  • споко́йный (spokójnyj)free of noise and disturbance
  • поко́й (pokój)condition of being unworried and free from anger
  • споко́йствие (spokójstvije)condition of being unworried and free from anger
  • поко́й (pokój)the state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • тишина́ (tišiná)the state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • зати́шье (zatíšʹje)period without wind
  • безве́трие (bezvétrije)period without wind
  • штиль (štilʹ)period without wind
  • успока́ивать (uspokáivatʹ)to make calm
  • успоко́ить (uspokóitʹ)to make calm
  • успока́иваться (uspokáivatʹsja)to become calm
  • успокои́ться (uspokoítʹsja)to become calm
Scottish Gaelic suaimhneach, suaimhneach
  • suaimhneachfree from anger and anxiety
  • suaimhneachfree of noise and disturbance
  • fèathperiod without wind
Slovak pokojný
  • pokojnýfree from anger and anxiety
Spanish calmado, surto
  • calmadofree from anger and anxiety
  • surtofree from anger and anxiety
  • calmofree from anger and anxiety
  • calmosofree from anger and anxiety
  • calmadofree of noise and disturbance
  • glaxo(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • calmadowithout wind or storm
  • galenowithout wind or storm
  • sosiegocondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • calmacondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • sosiegothe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • calmaperiod without wind
Swahili shwari
  • shwariperiod without wind
Swedish lugn, rofylld
  • lugnfree from anger and anxiety
  • rofylldfree from anger and anxiety
  • lugnfree of noise and disturbance
  • stillafree of noise and disturbance
  • stilla(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • vindstillawithout wind or storm
  • rocondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • lugncondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • rothe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • stillhetthe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • lugnthe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • stiltjeperiod without wind
  • blekeperiod without wind
  • vindstillaperiod without wind
  • lugnato make calm
  • stillato make calm
  • blidkato make calm
  • bevekato make calm
  • lugna sigto become calm
Turkish sakin, durgun
  • sakinfree from anger and anxiety
  • durgunfree from anger and anxiety
  • dinginfree from anger and anxiety
  • sakinfree of noise and disturbance
  • durgunfree of noise and disturbance
  • dinginfree of noise and disturbance
  • sakin(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • durgun(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • dingin(of water) with few or no waves on the surface
  • sakinwithout wind or storm
  • dinginwithout wind or storm
  • sükûnetcondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • dinginlikcondition of being unworried and free from anger
  • sükûnetthe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • dinginlikthe state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • dinginlikperiod without wind
  • sakinleştirmekto make calm
  • dindirmekto make calm
  • yatıştırmakto make calm
  • sakinleşmekto become calm
  • dinmekto become calm
Ukrainian спокі́йний, спокі́йний
  • спокі́йний (spokíjnyj)free from anger and anxiety
  • спокі́йний (spokíjnyj)free of noise and disturbance
  • за́ти́шни́й (zátýšnýj)free of noise and disturbance
  • спо́кій (spókij)condition of being unworried and free from anger
  • спо́кій (spókij)the state with absence of noise and disturbance
  • зати́шшя (zatýššja)period without wind
  • безві́тря (bezvítrja)period without wind
  • заспоко́ювати (zaspokójuvaty)to make calm
  • заспоко́їти (zaspokójity)to make calm
Yiddish רויִק, רויִק
  • רויִק (ruik)free from anger and anxiety
  • רויִק (ruik)free of noise and disturbance

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with calm

ampalmspamcamramsamVietnamexamAmsterdamgrahamjamIslamdamGuamnamhamlambpamgramscamlammadamepsalmbam
All rhymes →

Anagrams

clamMalc
Cite this entry
APA

calm. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/calm

MLA

“calm.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/calm. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “calm,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/calm.

Source: calm on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.