an end in itself

noun phrase

: something that one does because one wants to and not because it will help achieve or accomplish something else

She started exercising for her health, but she enjoyed it so much that exercising became an end in itself.

For him, taking classes was an end in itself.

Examples of an end in itself in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For centuries, Italian culture has placed people at the center of creation, seeing beauty not as an end in itself, but as a way to improve lives, create meaning and build connections. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026

Frémaux, meanwhile, said the gathering shouldn’t be viewed as an end in itself. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

Like pressure, however, diplomacy cannot serve as an end in itself. — Nate Swanson, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026

And this is not an end in itself; NASA believes the knowledge gained from establishing such an outpost will help humanity make the next giant leap — to Mars. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 4 July 2026

Rhymes for an end in itself

• bookshelf
• herself
• himself
• hisself
• meself
• myself
• nonself
• oneself
• thyself
• yourself
• elf
• self