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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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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
Rain chances are expected to end by late Sunday afternoon and evening. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2025 Here, then, there are no fierce battles that end within a matter of minutes, and no miles-long journeys glossed over by a convenient dissolve. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
This design makes for a lot of tense moments as players use up their items and jockey for position at the end of each section cutoff. —ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2025 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen holds a joint press conference with Antonio Costa at the end of the European Council Summit in Brussels, Belgium, on March 20, 2025. —Lim Hui Jie,sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 3 Apr. 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
  • This new limited-edition release takes that core whisky and finishes it in Pedro Ximenez and Palo Cortado sherry casks.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The latter took the shot and finished the round, but he was clearly getting plastered.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of finish
Verb
  • Has Bacteria-Fighting Properties A study found that ACV helped stop the growth of two harmful bacteria: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli).
    — Johna Burdeos, Health, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Hansi Flick will surely remember the outstanding save from former Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian to stop Jules Kounde in the second half, as well as the last-minute cross from Raphinha that Robert Lewandowski or Fermin Lopez failed to tap in.
    — Pol Ballús, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of stop
Verb
  • China's tariff rate is now in triple digit territory, and who knows what happens in 90 days when this pause concludes.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The audience peaked with around 21.1M viewers as the nail-biting game, in which the Gators trailed for a majority of the time, was concluding.
    — Katie Campione, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of conclude
Verb
  • The saxophonist in his band also died, according to manager Enrique Paulino.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Iconoclastic critic, art historian, and photographer Max Kozloff, who served as Artforum’s executive editor in the 1970s before turning to his own artistic practice, died on April 6.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of die
Noun
  • Season 3 left off in a dire place — in a shocking twist ending, Ava betrayed Deborah after the comedian had stabbed her in the back by naming someone else as the head writer of her new late-night show.
    — Esther Kang, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • So the ending of the record is getting up onto the top of the moors and screaming at the sky—and off and into the clouds, and then we’re gone.
    — Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of ending
Noun
  • The plan would lift the debt limit To avoid a catastrophic financial default this summer, the Senate plan would raise the U.S. debt limit by $5 trillion.
    — Claudia Grisales, NPR, 5 Apr. 2025
  • The House had boosted the debt limit by $4 trillion in its plan, but the Senate upped it to $5 trillion to push any further votes on the matter until after next year’s midterm elections.
    — Time, Time, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of limit
Noun
  • Additionally, charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) offer a dual advantage: donors receive tax deductions while maintaining an income stream.
    — Ethan Stone, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
  • The monthly chart shows headwinds that paint a less favorable picture for remainder of the year.
    — Katie Stockton, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of remainder
Noun
  • Be open to learning from experience, from customers and from the market itself, and adjust your goals, personality and identity as necessary.
    — Sabine Leveiller, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The second of those was goal number two, another type of move that a back five is set up to defend against.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 7 Apr. 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 15 Apr. 2025.

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