peace ‧ ful S3 /ˈpiːsf ə l/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ peace , ↑ peacefulness , ↑ pacifier , ↑ pacifism , ↑ pacifist ; adjective : ↑ peaceful , ↑ peaceable , ↑ pacifist ; adverb : ↑ peacefully , ↑ peaceably ; verb : ↑ pacify ]
1 . a peaceful time, place, or situation is quiet and calm without any worry or excitement:
We had a peaceful afternoon without the children.
It’s very peaceful out here in the woods.
2 . not involving war, fighting, or violence
peaceful protest/demonstration
There was a large but peaceful demonstration outside the US Embassy.
peaceful solution/conclusion/settlement
We must try to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
peaceful means/way/manner/method
a political change achieved by peaceful and democratic means
the use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes
The countries in Europe have established a peaceful co-existence (=they exist together without fighting) .
3 . peaceful people do not like violence and do not behave in a violent way ⇨ non-violent :
a noisy but peaceful group of demonstrators
—peacefully adverb :
She was sleeping peacefully.
—peacefulness noun [uncountable]
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COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 2)
■ nouns
▪ a peaceful protest/demonstration
5,000 students began a peaceful protest which turned into a violent confrontation with police.
▪ a peaceful solution/resolution/settlement
The authorities want a peaceful solution to the hostage crisis.
▪ peaceful coexistence (=when people live together without fighting or arguing)
Blacks and whites lived in peaceful coexistence.
▪ a peaceful transition (=a peaceful change from one system to another)
They hope to achieve a peaceful transition to democracy.
■ phrases
▪ by/through peaceful means
We must redistribute power in this country by peaceful means.
▪ for peaceful purposes
A Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed that the nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
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THESAURUS
■ a quiet place
▪ quiet without much noise:
It’s so quiet here at night.
|
This is the quietest room in the house to work in.
▪ silent with no noise at all:
The room fell silent (=became silent) .
▪ peaceful ( also tranquil especially written ) quiet in a pleasant and relaxing way:
Life’s more peaceful in the countryside.
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The hotel is set in tranquil surroundings.
▪ sleepy [only before noun] quiet – used about a town or village where there are not many people and very little happens:
a sleepy fishing village