ceased looking for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ceased looking for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone has stopped searching for something or someone. Example: "After months of searching for a new job, she finally ceased looking for opportunities and decided to take a break."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Is the jobless rate low only because millions have ceased looking for work and hence shrunk the size of the statistical labor force?

The Washington Post

With unemployment at 9.6% and additional legions of underemployed and those who have ceased looking for work altogether, do you really believe it is better to keep somebody in their 60s in a job?

The Economist

Citing the fact that millions of people had ceased looking for jobs during and after the Great Recession of 2007-2009, she argued that the headline rate of unemployment was an inadequate measure of the state of the labor market, and that other metrics, such as the labor-force-participation rate, also needed to be taken into account.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But it must never – and will never – cease looking for more efficiencies, and demonstrating that to our owners, the British public.

The Guardian

An equally misguided position would be for government officials to believe that technology innovators and entrepreneurs will cease looking for ways to solve problems, disrupt inefficient systems and industries and catalyze regulatory change.

TechCrunch

While plans make people more likely to act on a goal, they may also cause people to cease looking for useful alternatives".

Huffington Post

For computers to become truly less interruptive, they might have to cease looking like computers.

The New York Times - Magazine

We have been wedded to the export model for so long we have ceased to look for alternatives," says Thomas Mayer of Deutsche Bank.Germany may never again run as large a current-account surplus as it did before the crisis, if only because many of its main export markets will not easily regain their former buoyancy.

The Economist

The French and West German authorities had ceased to look for Mr. Barbie when, in 1971, a painstaking search by Mrs. Klarsfeld and her husband, Serge, turned up evidence that tied him to the deportation of 44 Jewish children from the village of Izieu.

The New York Times

Last week I wrote about a peculiar economic phenomenon now taking place: In this recession, unemployed men are ceasing to look for work at greater rates than ever before.

Forbes

Moreover, since FRPs are (conservative) change agents 6 and following the above-described societal evolutions, it would be rather implausible to assume FRPs seek to maximise (political or electoral) utility and cease to look for information at their national borders [12, 79].

European Journal of Futures Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ceased looking for", ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for stopping the search, whether it's due to success, failure, or a change in circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "ceased looking for" when the search is only temporarily paused. Instead, use phrases like "temporarily stopped searching" or "suspended the search" to indicate a potential resumption.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ceased looking for" functions as a verb phrase indicating the termination of a search or investigative action. It expresses that the subject has completely stopped the activity of searching, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ceased looking for" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English that signifies the termination of a search. While Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct, it's relatively uncommon, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. Alternative phrases like "stopped searching for" or "gave up searching for" may be more common in everyday conversation, but "ceased looking for" offers a more formal tone. Remember to consider the context and intended audience when choosing between these options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stopped searching for

A more common and direct way of saying someone has ended their search.

no longer sought

A simple, direct way of stating that the search has ended.

gave up searching for

Implies a sense of discouragement or resignation in ending the search.

quit trying to find

Indicates a cessation of effort with a connotation of difficulty.

abandoned the search for

Suggests a more formal or official cessation of a search, often implying difficulty.

suspended the search for

Implies that the search may resume at a later time.

halted the pursuit of

Conveys a more deliberate and planned end to the search or effort.

terminated the investigation for

Suggests a formal end to an inquiry or investigation.

desisted from seeking

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying 'stopped looking'.

discontinued the quest for

Emphasizes the end of a long or ambitious search.

FAQs

What does "ceased looking for" mean?

The phrase "ceased looking for" means that someone has stopped searching or trying to find something or someone. It implies a complete stop, rather than a temporary pause.

What can I say instead of "ceased looking for"?

You can use alternatives like "stopped searching for", "gave up searching for", or "abandoned the search for" depending on the context.

Is "ceased looking for" formal or informal?

"Ceased looking for" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "stopped looking" or "gave up looking". The level of formality depends on the surrounding context and intended audience.

When is it appropriate to use "ceased looking for"?

Use "ceased looking for" when you want to emphasize the finality of the search and when the context is relatively formal. For more casual situations, "stopped looking" is often sufficient.