end

play

noun \ˈend\

Definition of end

1a : the part of an area that lies at the boundaryb (1) : a point that marks the extent of something (2) : the point where something ceases to exist world without endc : the extreme or last part lengthwise : tipd : the terminal unit of something spatial that is marked off by unitse : a player stationed at the extremity of a line or team (as in football)
2a : cessation of a course of action, pursuit, or activityb : death, destructionc (1) : the ultimate state (2) : result, issue
3 : something incomplete, fragmentary, or undersized : remnant
4a : an outcome worked toward : purpose the end of poetry is to be poetry — R. P. Warrenb : the object by virtue of or for the sake of which an event takes place
5a : a share in an undertaking kept your end upb : a particular operation or aspect of an undertaking or organization the sales end of the business
6 : something that is extreme : ultimate —used with the
7 : a period of action or turn in any of various sports events (such as archery or lawn bowling)

ended

play \ˈen-dəd\ adjective

in the end

: after all, ultimately will surely succeed in the end

no end

: exceedingly it pleases us no end

on end

: without a stop or letup it rained for days on end

See end defined for English-language learners

See end defined for kids

Examples of end in a Sentence

The report is due at the end of the month.
She interviewed several players at the end of the game.
The restaurant is in the north end of the city.
We biked from one end of the island to the other.
The house is at the end of the road.
They live at opposite ends of town.
the deep end of a swimming pool
She drove the end of the stake into the ground.
The car's front end was damaged.
One end of the rope was tangled.

Recent Examples of end from the Web

Reducing Risk’ Total Return’s assets fell to $73.3 billion as of June 30 from $73.8 billion at the end of May, according to the Pimco website.

— john gittelsohn, Bloomberg.com, "Pimco Income Fund Grows to $88.9 Billion as Inflows Continue", 5 July 2017
Meal time or not, when in the South End, Supermercado Guanajuato is worth a stop.

— lindsey mcclave, The Courier-Journal, "Meal time or not, Supermercado Guanajuato is worth a stop | Review", 5 July 2017
And that continued through the end of his campaign, with his 100-day plan released shortly before the election including that plank prominently.

— aaron blake, Washington Post, "China is emerging as Case Study No. 1 on Trump’s erratic foreign policy", 5 July 2017
At the end of the 20th century, New York City’s pain was Connecticut’s gain.

— derek thompson, The Atlantic, "What on Earth Is Wrong With Connecticut?", 5 July 2017
Western European efforts to isolate President Trump for rejecting the Paris climate change agreement appear to be faltering as leaders gather for a summit meeting in Hamburg, Germany, at the end of the week.

— lisa friedman, New York Times, "Trump May Find Some Allies on Climate Change at G-20 Meeting", 5 July 2017
The leader at the end of the season receives exempt status on the Web.com Tour for the 2018 season.

— mark inabinett, AL.com, "Robby Shelton swings back into action as winner on PGA Tour's Canadian circuit", 5 July 2017
But the most painful and powerful memories were of her mother Yvonne, her lifelong inspiration, dying slowly of typhus in Belsen after a 45-mile death march at the war’s end.

— The Economist, "LiberatedObituary: Simone Veil died on June 30th", 5 July 2017
The corner has been vacant since the village demolished those businesses, and construction on the new ones is expected to begin this year, with CVS opening at the end of 2018, officials said.

— susan demar lafferty, Daily Southtown, "New Lenox approves new shopping center", 5 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'end'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of end

Middle English ende, from Old English; akin to Old High German enti end, Latin ante before, Greek anti against

NEW!

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of end

intention, intent, purpose, design, aim, end, object, objective, goal mean what one intends to accomplish or attain. intention implies little more than what one has in mind to do or bring about. announced his intention to marry intent suggests clearer formulation or greater deliberateness. the clear intent of the statute purpose suggests a more settled determination. being successful was her purpose in life design implies a more carefully calculated plan. the order of events came by accident, not design aim adds to these implications of effort directed toward attaining or accomplishing. her aim was to raise film to an art form end stresses the intended effect of action often in distinction or contrast to the action or means as such. willing to use any means to achieve his end object may equal end but more often applies to a more individually determined wish or need. his constant object was the achievement of pleasure objective implies something tangible and immediately attainable. their objective is to seize the oil fields goal suggests something attained only by prolonged effort and hardship. worked years to reach her goals

end

verb

Definition of end

transitive verb
1a : to bring to an endb : destroy
2 : to make up the end of a wedding scene ends the film
intransitive verb
1a : to come to an end the meeting will end at noonb : to reach a specified ultimate rank, situation, or place —usually used with up ended up as a colonel
2 : die

Recent Examples of end from the Web

Now, the battle over the state beaches is quickly turning into Christie’s Waterloo as the governor—whose approval rating is already a record 15 percent—makes a bid for infamy that will long outlast his rapidly-ending tenure.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "Chris Christie Caught Sunbathing After Closing All State Beaches over July Fourth Weekend", 3 July 2017

First Known Use of end

before 12th century

Synonym Discussion of end

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

end

adjective

Definition of end

: final, ultimate end results end markets

See end defined for English-language learners

Examples of end in a Sentence

the end product of a process
the end point of the operation

First Known Use of end

13th century

end

verb

Definition of end

dialectal, England

transitive verb
: to put (grain or hay) into a barn or stack

Recent Examples of end from the Web

Now, the battle over the state beaches is quickly turning into Christie’s Waterloo as the governor—whose approval rating is already a record 15 percent—makes a bid for infamy that will long outlast his rapidly-ending tenure.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "Chris Christie Caught Sunbathing After Closing All State Beaches over July Fourth Weekend", 3 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of end

probably alteration of English dialect in to harvest

NEW!

First Known Use: 1607

See Words from the same year

Other Agriculture/Gardening Terms

fallow, graft, heirloom, loam, potash, soilage, swath, tilth, windfall

end-

combining form

variants: or

endo-

Definition of end-

1 : within : inside endoskeleton — compare ect-, exo-
2 : taking in endothermic

Origin and Etymology of end-

French, from Greek, from endon within; akin to Greek en in, Old Latin indu, Hittite andan within — more at in

END Defined for English Language Learners

end

play

noun

Definition of end for English Language Learners

: a point that marks the limit of something : the point at which something no longer continues to happen or exist
: the last part of a story, movie, song, etc.
: the part at the edge or limit of an area

END Defined for Kids

end

play

noun \ˈend\

Definition of end for Students

1 : the part near the boundary of an area I live in the city's north end.
2 : the point where something stops or ceases to exist That's the end of the story.
3 : the first or last part of a thing She knotted the end of the rope.
4 : death 1, destruction “You'll meet the same sticky end as your parents one of these days, Harry Potter …” — J. K. Rowling, Chamber of Secrets
5 : purpose, goal
6 : a player in football positioned at the end of the line of scrimmage
7 : a part of an undertaking He kept his end of the agreement.

end

play

verb

Definition of end for Students

ended

;

ending

: to bring or come to an end : stop, finish I wish vacation would never end. He ended the discussion.

end up

: to reach or come to a place, condition, or situation unexpectedly “… unless you make a deal with his dad, you're going to end up with nothing …” — Andrew Clements, Frindle