peace‧ful S3 / pisf ə l / 形容词

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 副词 :

She was sleeping peacefully.

— peacefulness 名词 [不可数名词]

COLLOCATIONS

名词

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.

短语

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.

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. | The hotel is set in tranquil surroundings.

sleepy [仅用于名词前] quiet – used about a town or village where there are not many people and very little happens : a sleepy fishing village