Formal and Precise:
* Came to an end: This emphasizes the completion of something.
* Stopped: This is a concise and direct definition.
* Discontinued: This implies a deliberate decision to stop something.
Informal and Connotative:
* Quit: This implies a more abrupt ending.
* Finished: This implies a sense of completion.
* Came to a halt: This is more descriptive of an abrupt stop.
Ultimately, the best definition of "ceased" will depend on the specific situation and the desired level of formality.