end 1 of 2

verb

Definition of endnext
1
as in to finish
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point let's end the meeting with a short prayer

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2
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end unfortunately, an argument ended their date, and they're still not speaking to each other

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3
as in to conclude
to come to an end a book so good that you hate to see it end

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to die
to stop living a great general, who ended on the field of battle

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

end

2 of 2

noun

ˈend How to pronounce end (audio)
1
as in ending
the stopping of a process or activity the end of hostilities brought general rejoicing

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2
as in limit
a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go I'm at the end of my patience with these little brats

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3
as in remainder
an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value a couple of ends of wallpaper were all that was left after we finished papering the room

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in goal
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish in this case the ends definitely do not justify the means

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5
as in tip
the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow a child's pair of scissors with blunt ends

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6
as in conclusion
the last part of a process or action the war wasn't yet over, but we were definitely at the beginning of the end

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7
as in perimeter
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something the ends of his shirt cuffs were badly frayed

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8
as in demise
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities Henry Hudson and eight others were set adrift in the bay in a small boat, and how they met their end is unknown

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9
as in portion
something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group keep up your end of the bargain

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb end differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of end are close, complete, conclude, finish, and terminate. While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

When might close be a better fit than end?

In some situations, the words close and end are roughly equivalent. However, close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

When could complete be used to replace end?

While the synonyms complete and end are close in meaning, 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

When can conclude be used instead of end?

The synonyms conclude and end are sometimes interchangeable, but conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

In what contexts can finish take the place of end?

While in some cases nearly identical to end, finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

When is terminate a more appropriate choice than end?

The meanings of terminate and end largely overlap; however, terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of end
Verb
The parade will take place along Constitution Avenue NW, starting on Constitution Avenue NW and 23rd Street and ending on 15th Street alongside the National Mall, near the National Museum of African American History and Culture. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 14 June 2025 Delegations from the warring sides agreed Monday to swap dead and wounded troops, but their conditions for ending the war remained far apart. —Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
Noun
Siri has been hitting outside, going through a running progression and taking outfield jumps for about a month with the hope of returning by the end of the month. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 14 June 2025 Near the end of their captivity, the kidnappers cut off the ring finger of Juan’s left hand. —Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 14 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for end
Recent Examples of Synonyms for end
  1. finish
  2. stop
  3. conclude
  4. die
  5. ending
  6. limit
  7. remainder
  8. goal
Verb
  • Then Dart finished his second drive with a deep TD pass down the right sideline to rookie receiver Dalen Cambre.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 17 June 2025
  • Morant finished his sixth season in Memphis averaging 23.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.3 assists over 50 games.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2025
Definition of finish
Verb
  • California lawmakers are looking to stop local police officers and federal agents from wearing face masks or coverings while carrying out operations in the state.
    — Billal Rahman Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
  • In 2012, the Premier League stopped awarding bottles of Champagne along with man of the match awards, out of respect for the religious beliefs of some players.
    — Carl Anka, New York Times, 17 June 2025
Definition of stop
Verb
  • What’s next: The Royals conclude their weekend series against the Padres on Sunday afternoon.
    — Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2025
  • In the study, scientists concluded further adaptation and the potential expansion of cropland may be needed to ensure food security and mitigate climate impacts.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 21 June 2025
Definition of conclude
Verb
  • Missing, however, was the museum’s founder Joseph Randall Shapiro, who died just days earlier at the age of 91. 2011: Ferocious winds spawned tornadoes that hit Downers Grove and Mount Prospect, but warning sirens in the communities remained silent.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025
  • If your team is afraid to disagree, if failure is punished, if new ideas die in PowerPoint—your culture needs rewiring.
    — Bill Fischer, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
Definition of die
Noun
  • Even a half-century later, the undead ghouls that descend upon survivors in a Pennsylvania farm house are timeless and the gut-punch ending couldn't be more timely.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 14 June 2025
  • Meet the cast of 'Survivor 50' Danielle Reyes explains why 'The Traitors' ending with Britney is so 'heartbreaking' Of course, there are also some other wild cards thrown into the mix.
    — Dalton Ross, EW.com, 13 June 2025
Definition of ending
Noun
  • Protection from surveillance comes in two forms: top-down legal and policy limits on data collection, and bottom-up technological protections in the hands of the targets of that surveillance.
    — Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 16 June 2025
  • After watching his inspiring return from injury, Acosta won’t put limits on him.
    — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2025
Definition of limit
Noun
  • From there, players stick to Abby's perspective for nearly the entire remainder of the game.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 27 May 2025
  • Another gift that generates regular income is the charitable remainder trust.
    — Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Definition of remainder
Noun
  • Scoring, of course, would go a long way in achieving that goal.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
  • His aggressive tackling was crucial in helping PSG regain possession high up in their first goal against Atleti on Sunday (see top right of pitch map).
    — Mark Carey, New York Times, 18 June 2025
Definition of goal

Phrases Containing end

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encysts
end
endamage
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Cite this Entry

“End.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/end. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.

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