WordGarden.iobecalm
Pronunciation
UK
- /bɪkˈɑːm/
US
- /bɪˈkɑm/
Meanings
Verb
to calm, soothe, or quiet someone or something
to leave a sailing vessel unable to move because the wind has died
Beyond the definition
To calm something, whether the waves of the sea or the anxieties in someone's heart, is to make it peaceful and still. Picture a soft wind fading out until the water turns glassy, or a gentle word easing a frightened child's panic. It is about bringing calm where unrest once moved.
The word implies a deliberate act of soothing, often by easing the source of disturbance. In a nautical sense, a ship is becalmed when the wind stops, leaving it motionless on the water. In a figurative sense, a person might settle their own troubled mind through meditation or a quiet walk. You don't usually becalm a rock, and the word points to something that was in motion or agitation and has been brought to rest.
"Becalm" is a richly evocative verb meaning to make calm or peaceful, to quiet or soothe. It implies more than merely becoming calm; it suggests a deliberate effort or a specific condition that causes calmness, often after disturbance or agitation.
Originally a nautical term, "becalm" described a vessel left motionless because the wind had died down or was being blocked. A ship "becalmed" at sea is both peaceful and powerless, an image writers have long used for both literal stillness and emotional quieting.
Today, while less common in casual conversation, "becalm" still works well for physical and emotional stillness. You might say a beautiful melody calmed a performer's nerves, or that a wise counselor helped calm a patient's fears. It is not simply about the state of being calm; it is the active act of bringing something into a settled, restful condition.
Unlike synonyms like "soothe" or "pacify," "becalm" often carries a stronger sense of stillness and quietude, suggesting a noticeable pause in motion and emotion. It evokes images of serene landscapes and deep inner peace, a gentle force restoring balance after turmoil. When you want to describe a profound, deliberate settling effect, "becalm" is the right choice.
Examples
- 1
Sailing
At noon, the yacht was becalmed just off the island.
- Usage
often used in literary writing, especially about sailing
- 2
Stranded at sea
They spent the night becalmed in the middle of the bay.
- 3
Negotiations
After a strong start, the negotiations were becalmed by months of delay and mistrust.
- Patternbecalmed by + delay/problem
brought to a halt in a slow, frustrating way
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- becalmverb
Forms
- becalmedpast tenseverb
- becalming-ing formverb
- becalmsverb