end 1 of 2

verb

Definition of endnext
1
as in to finish
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point let's end the meeting with a short prayer

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2
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end unfortunately, an argument ended their date, and they're still not speaking to each other

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3
as in to conclude
to come to an end a book so good that you hate to see it end

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to die
to stop living a great general, who ended on the field of battle

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

end

2 of 2

noun

ˈend How to pronounce end (audio)
1
as in ending
the stopping of a process or activity the end of hostilities brought general rejoicing

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in limit
a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go I'm at the end of my patience with these little brats

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3
as in remainder
an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value a couple of ends of wallpaper were all that was left after we finished papering the room

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4
as in goal
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish in this case the ends definitely do not justify the means

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5
as in tip
the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow a child's pair of scissors with blunt ends

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6
as in conclusion
the last part of a process or action the war wasn't yet over, but we were definitely at the beginning of the end

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7
as in perimeter
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something the ends of his shirt cuffs were badly frayed

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8
as in demise
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities Henry Hudson and eight others were set adrift in the bay in a small boat, and how they met their end is unknown

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9
as in portion
something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group keep up your end of the bargain

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb end differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of end are close, complete, conclude, finish, and terminate. While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

When might close be a better fit than end?

In some situations, the words close and end are roughly equivalent. However, close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

When could complete be used to replace end?

While the synonyms complete and end are close in meaning, 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

When can conclude be used instead of end?

The synonyms conclude and end are sometimes interchangeable, but conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

In what contexts can finish take the place of end?

While in some cases nearly identical to end, finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

When is terminate a more appropriate choice than end?

The meanings of terminate and end largely overlap; however, terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of end
Verb
While other front offices have been able to end their holdouts, that has not been the case in Washington. —Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025 Alix Earle, a 24-year-old social media influencer, is speaking out amid chatter that her romance with NFL player Braxton Berrios ended. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Noun
Broken Arrow Public Schools said McGann left at the end of the school year to work out of state and had faced no disciplinary action while he was employed. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 1 Aug. 2025 The latest tariffs announcement and the weak jobs report come at the end of a busy economic news week. —Rafael Nam, NPR, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for end
Recent Examples of Synonyms for end
  1. finish
  2. stop
  3. conclude
  4. die
  5. ending
  6. limit
  7. remainder
  8. goal
Verb
  • Outstanding Seniors winner Braden Cole finished third in the super poll with 3,956 votes.
    — Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 23 July 2025
  • North Irvine finished 5 for 7 with the extra attacker.
    — Dan Albano, Oc Register, 23 July 2025
Definition of finish
Verb
  • Shortly after Braun’s executive order, the Indiana Department of Health told local health departments to stop accepting requests to change genders on birth certificates.
    — Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 24 July 2025
  • Break it up by stopping at the St. Regis Travel Center in St. Regis, Montana, for a huckleberry milkshake.
    — Sal Vaglica, USA Today, 23 July 2025
Definition of stop
Verb
  • Metallica is slated to kick off their 2026 M72 World Tour in the late spring, which will conclude in the early summer on July 5th, 2026.
    — Quentin Thane Singer, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
  • At a two-day meeting that concludes Wednesday, the Fed is widely expected to hold its key interest rate steady despite President Donald Trump’s monthslong campaign aimed at browbeating Fed Chair Jerome Powell and his colleagues into cutting rates.
    — Paul Davidson, USA Today, 28 July 2025
Definition of conclude
Verb
  • The department’s homicide unit is investigating the death, as is the department’s protocol when someone dies while in custody.
    — Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • In Gaza, though, no one knows precisely how many people have died, or what proportion were innocents; the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas, maintains that more than half were women and children.
    — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 July 2025
Definition of die
Noun
  • This is a month of potent endings but also powerful beginnings.
    — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2025
  • The almost Nathan Fielder-esque twist ending is vulnerable and touching and delightfully unexpected.
    — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 1 Aug. 2025
Definition of ending
Noun
  • Just know your limits — full-fat dairy and extra-strength coffee make this sweet treat quietly one of the more intestinally challenging offerings at the State Fair, which is saying a lot.
    — Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 3 Aug. 2025
  • The 2025 contribution limit for IRAs is $7,000, with an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution for those 50 and older.
    — Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
Definition of limit
Noun
  • For those who are charitably inclined, the after-tax amount of a traditional IRA distribution can generate lifetime income when it is used to fund a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust.
    — Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2025
  • You will be allowed to carry forward the first $500 of your cash gifts (0.5% x $100,000) plus any remainder of your donations above $60,000 (60% of your AGI).
    — Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 27 July 2025
Definition of remainder
Noun
  • Although the artist had specific weight loss goals, her primary focus is her mental health.
    — Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 24 July 2025
  • The basic goals, or the basic expectations, for this project were to create a buffer between the Palestinian public and Hamas, and to make Hamas’s power much more limited.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 24 July 2025
Definition of goal

Phrases Containing end

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encysts
end
endamage
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Cite this Entry

“End.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/end. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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