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
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.
Noun
This handcrafted Eames chair would look handsome on top of any coffee table or as an unconventional bookend. Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 1 Nov. 2024 With the election a week away, the fallout over the remark has created an odd bookend to the acrimonious race between Jurado, a first-time candidate, and Councilmember Kevin de León, who represents part of L.A.’s Eastside. David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
Only one last victorious appearance to bookend a celebratory season for the newest Dodgers star. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024 The group’s first set with new members has already produced a handful of singles, and the first two almost manage to bookend the same chart in America. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 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 8 Dec. 2024.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!