conclude

verb

con·​clude kən-ˈklüd How to pronounce conclude (audio)
concluded; concluding

transitive verb

1
: to bring to an end especially in a particular way or with a particular action
conclude a meeting
2
a
: to reach as a logically necessary end by reasoning : infer on the basis of evidence
concluded that her argument was sound
b
: to make a decision about : decide
concluded he would wait a little longer
c
: to come to an agreement on : effect
conclude a sale
concluded a peace treaty
3
: to bring about as a result : complete
4
obsolete : to shut up : enclose

intransitive verb

1
: end
The festivities concluded at midnight.
2
a
: to form a final judgment
b
: to reach a decision or agreement
concluder noun
Choose the Right Synonym for conclude

close, end, conclude, finish, complete, terminate mean to bring or come to a stopping point or limit.

close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

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

terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

infer, deduce, conclude, judge, gather mean to arrive at a mental conclusion.

infer implies arriving at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence; if the evidence is slight, the term comes close to surmise.

from that remark, I inferred that they knew each other

deduce often adds to infer the special implication of drawing a particular inference from a generalization.

denied we could deduce anything important from human mortality

conclude implies arriving at a necessary inference at the end of a chain of reasoning.

concluded that only the accused could be guilty

judge stresses a weighing of the evidence on which a conclusion is based.

judge people by their actions

gather suggests an intuitive forming of a conclusion from implications.

gathered their desire to be alone without a word

Examples of conclude in a Sentence

The investigation has not yet concluded. The meeting concluded at noon. The chairman concluded by wishing us all a happy holiday. We concluded the meeting on a happy note. The chairman concluded his speech by wishing us all a happy holiday. We conclude from our review of the evidence that they are right. Many studies have concluded that smoking is dangerous. The speech, many historians concluded, was the most important of his career. Their effort to conclude an agreement was a success. See More
Recent Examples on the Web For now, though, Sheila’s story concludes with her on a waterfront property musing about the greatest benefit of synchronous physical activity: The ability to feel connected to those around us. Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Sep. 2023 Though the Duchess of Sussex, 42, and Adams both stepped away from the show after season 7, which premiered in 2017, Suits concluded with a ninth and final season two years later. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 28 Sep. 2023 Investigators concluded that Woolf, a 15-year veteran of the department, had repeatedly lied, disobeyed orders and received police pay at least twice while moonlighting out of state. Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 28 Sep. 2023 Share [Findings] Baboons’ clear articulation of proto-vowels led scientists to conclude that speech could have begun developing twenty million years earlier than was previously thought. Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 27 Sep. 2023 Police concluded there were no verifiable suicidal or homicidal threats. Julianne McShane, NBC News, 27 Sep. 2023 The official is captured handing out medals to all competitors while appearing to snub the only Black gymnast in the lineup before concluding the presentation, walking off with the last remaining medal in her possession. Emma Ogao, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2023 September's round of payments concluded on Sept. 15, and October's round of payments will begin on Saturday. Brady Knox, Washington Examiner, 26 Sep. 2023 In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a landmark maritime dispute, which concluded that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights to the bulk of the South China Sea. Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 26 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'conclude.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin concludere to shut up, end, infer, from com- + claudere to shut — more at close entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of conclude was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near conclude

Cite this Entry

“Conclude.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conclude. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

conclude

verb
con·​clude kən-ˈklüd How to pronounce conclude (audio)
concluded; concluding
1
: to bring or come to an end : finish
conclude a speech
2
: to form an opinion : decide by reasoning
conclude that they are right
3
: to bring about as a result : arrange
conclude an agreement
concluder noun

More from Merriam-Webster on conclude

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