bookend

1 of 2

noun

book·​end ˈbu̇k-ˌend How to pronounce bookend (audio)
1
: a support placed at the end of a row of books
marble bookends
2
: one of two usually similar things that begin and end something
The second season started with stateside filming that included creating the "bookends," short segments that flank each episode …Paula Parisi
The trip has Eastern bookends. It began Monday in Ottawa and ends next Sunday in Atlanta.The New York Times
3
: one of two similar players on a team who play on opposite sides of the field or court
… Taylor is playing without bookend outside linebacker Carl Banks, who is sidelined with a wrist injury.Peter Kind

bookend

2 of 2

verb

bookended; bookending

transitive verb

1
: to be on both sides or ends of (something or someone) : flank
… dimples bookending his smile.Jennifer Kornreich
often used in passive constructions
… a squat sports arena of concrete and black glass bookended by a pair of massive concrete cylinders …Wells Tower
2
a
: to begin and end (something) with two similar things or with the same thing
… Klim and Thorpe had bookended the relay with two of the fastest 100-meter split times ever …Alexander Wolff
He bookends his meaty battle narrative with a thorough analysis of Roosevelt's internment policy …Jonathan Mahler
b
: to serve as or mark the beginning and ending of (something) : to be the first and last parts or events of (something)
… a movie that, together with All the President's Men, bookends the era of heroic investigative journalism.Rand Richards Cooper
often used in passive constructions
… the period bookended by the Civil War and the civil rights movement.Christopher Benfey
The anthology is bookended by an introductory essay by the editors … and an epilogue …C. L. Salter

Examples of bookend in a Sentence

Noun a pair of bookends shaped like horses He used an empty flowerpot as a bookend.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Also in the mix is CarMax, which will serve as the title sponsor of the self-explanatory NBA on Prime Pregame, while Wayfair will provide the matching bookend at the end of the night with its NBA Nightcap deal. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2025 Pumpkins are the bookends of autumn. Bill Chappell, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
What Happens Next AccuWeather meteorologists anticipate storms to bookend this coming winter, with the worst storms experienced at the beginning and end of the season. Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025 The music video itself, which bookends the film, features several very high-production scenes of different showgirls throughout history, including Swift's Eras Tour dancers and crew. Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bookend

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1956, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bookend was in 1907

Cite this Entry

“Bookend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bookend. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

bookend

noun
book·​end -ˌend How to pronounce bookend (audio)
: something placed at the end of a row of books to hold them up

More from Merriam-Webster on bookend

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