end up

phrasal verb

ended up; ending up; ends up
: to reach or come to a place, condition, or situation that was not planned or expected
The book ended up in the trash.
He didn't want to end up like his father.
She ended up a rich woman.
He ended up (living) in a nursing home.
The movie we wanted to see was sold out so we ended up seeing a different one.

Examples of end up in a Sentence

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.
Guy makes it through war, end up going out like that. Nick Romano, EW.com, 26 May 2025 Many dogs go to a home and struggle and end up back at the rescue. Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 25 May 2025 The pitch was supposed to be down and away, but ended up in the middle of the strike zone. Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 25 May 2025 Baldwin never ended up spending a second in prison, nor even a full week before a jury in his own case last summer. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for end up

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Cite this Entry

“End up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/end%20up. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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