dead-end

1 of 3

adjective

ˈded-ˌend 

1

a

: lacking opportunities especially for advancement

a dead-end job

b

: lacking an exit

a dead-end street

2

: unruly

dead-end kids

dead-endedness

ˌded-ˈen-dəd-nəs 

noun

dead-end

2 of 3

verb

ˈded-ˈend 

dead-ended; dead-ending; dead-ends

intransitive verb

: to come to a dead end : terminate

the road dead-ends at the lake

the investigation dead-ended

dead end

3 of 3

noun

ˈded-ˈend 

1

: an end (as of a street) without an exit

2

: a position, situation, or course of action that leads to nothing further

Synonyms of dead-end

Verb

• end
• stop
• halt
• conclude
• expire
• cease

Examples of dead-end in a Sentence

Verb

after several fruitless years, the research seems to have simply dead-ended

Noun

We came to a dead end and had to turn around.

My career has hit a dead end.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Unfortunately, her to-do list is full of dead-end prosecutions on behalf of her No. 1 fan. —Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026

The pursuit ended when they were boxed in at a dead-end, the police said. —Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026

Verb

The answer is that the tunnel has to go to either Block 780/Penn South, a dead-end terminal or existing Penn Station, which can be achieved by through-running trains out the other side of Penn to either Grand Central or Queens and Long Island. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026

Martin and Aristil drove her to a dead-end street, where Martin allegedly shot and killed Register. —Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026

Noun

The kind that sees possibility where others only see a dead end. —Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2026

McCulloch currently dead ends just west of the Econlockhatchee River, also known as the Econ and designated by the state as Outstanding Florida Water for its ecological importance to the region. —Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

1940, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dead-end

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• depend

Kids Definition

dead-end

1 of 2 adjective

ˌded-ˌend

1

a

: having no opportunities for advancement

a dead-end job

b

: lacking an exit

dead-end street

2

: unruly

dead-end kids

dead end

2 of 2 noun

: an end (as of a street) without an exit