dead-end

1 of 3

adjective

1
a
: lacking opportunities especially for advancement
a dead-end job
b
: lacking an exit
a dead-end street
2
: unruly
dead-end kids
dead-endedness noun

dead-end

2 of 3

verb

dead-ended; dead-ending; dead-ends

intransitive verb

: to come to a dead end : terminate
the road dead-ends at the lake
the investigation dead-ended

dead end

3 of 3

noun

1
: an end (as of a street) without an exit
2
: a position, situation, or course of action that leads to nothing further

Examples of dead-end in a Sentence

Verb after several fruitless years, the research seems to have simply dead-ended Noun We came to a dead end and had to turn around. My career has hit a dead end.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Director Bruce Goodison applies the tension well in the first two thirds of this efficient Shudder release, but then the plot smacks into a dead-end in its final act. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024 The bits with Julia and Randall were better than the other dead-end scenes. Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Verb
Where any normal car would need a three-point turn (down yet another dead-end Camden side street, for instance), the taxi simply spins around and goes. Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2023 Commissioner Andrew Brink said without a street connection to the east, the roundabout effectively will dead-end within the development. Stacy Ryburn, Arkansas Online, 14 Mar. 2023
Noun
Because this would lead to a dead end: stagnation, poverty, and inequality. Ge Bai, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 Her brother hit a dead end street, bailed from the car and started to run. Suzette Hackney, USA TODAY, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dead-end 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1944, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dead-end was in 1886

Dictionary Entries Near dead-end

Cite this Entry

“Dead-end.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead-end. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

dead-end

1 of 2 adjective
ˌded-ˌend
1
a
: having no opportunities for advancement
a dead-end job
b
: lacking an exit
dead-end street
2
: unruly
dead-end kids

dead end

2 of 2 noun
: an end (as of a street) without an exit

More from Merriam-Webster on dead-end

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!