terminate

1 of 2

verb

ter·​mi·​nate ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt 

terminated; terminating

intransitive verb

1

: to form an ending

2

: to come to an end in time

3

: to extend only to a limit (such as a point or line)

especially : to reach a terminus

transitive verb

1

a

: to bring to an end : close

terminate a marriage by divorce

terminate a transmission line

b

: to discontinue the employment of

workers terminated because of slow business

c

: to form the conclusion of

review questions terminate each chapter

2

: to serve as an ending, limit, or boundary of

3

: assassinate, kill

terminate

2 of 2

adjective

ter·​mi·​nate ˈtər-mə-nət 

: coming to an end or capable of ending

Synonyms

Verb

• close
• close out
• complete
• conclude
• end
• finish
• round (off or out)
• wind up
• wrap up

Choose the Right Synonym for terminate

close, end, conclude, finish, complete, terminate mean to bring or come to a stopping point or limit.

close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.

the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

Examples of terminate in a Sentence

Verb

The branches of that tree terminate in flower clusters.

The rail line terminates in Boston.

You have to terminate the program before the computer will shut down properly.

His contract was terminated last month.

He was terminated last month.

Plans are being made to terminate unproductive employees.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Trump has threatened revenge against our state, and pledged to be a dictator and terminate the Constitution. —Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 13 Dec. 2024

He was allowed to resign, rather than be terminated. —Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024

Adjective

ChristianaCare, the state’s largest health care system and largest private employer, has stated that all employees must receive the first dose of the vaccine by Sept. 21, or the health system with terminate workers who don’t unless given an exemption. —From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2021

That control gave Puglisi the sole authority to set up new credit card accounts, change spending limits, manage card access and terminate accounts. —Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin terminatus, past participle of terminare, from terminus

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

terminate

verb

ter·​mi·​nate

ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt

terminated; terminating

1

a

: to bring or come to an end : close

terminate a meeting

b

: to form the conclusion of

review questions terminate each chapter

2

: to serve as a limit or boundary of : bound

a fence terminated the yard

3

: to reach an end point or line

the racecourse terminates at the park entrance

terminable

ˈtərm-(ə-)nə-bəl

adjective

termination

ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən

noun

terminator

ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt-ər

noun

Legal Definition

terminate

verb

ter·​mi·​nate ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt 

terminated; terminating

intransitive verb

: to come to an end in time or effect

transitive verb

1

: to bring to a definite end especially before a natural conclusion

terminate a contract

compare cancel, rescind

2

: to discontinue the employment of

termination

ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən 

noun