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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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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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
The council received 23 applications and ultimately voted for five individuals, ending the fifth spot in tie-breaker vote among five candidates — one of which was former Free Press photographer Tony Spina. —Dana Afana, Freep.com, 29 Oct. 2025 In some cases, the frost is severe enough to end the growing season and is then referred to as a 'killing frost'. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
The novel series is about a father and daughter trying to reconcile at the end of the world. —Justin Kroll, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025 He’ll still be expected to stay plenty busy with Paramount until that time, but his time making a mountain of entertainment for Paramount has an end date. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 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
  • As a result, the Miss Universe Organization revoked her title for breaching contractual obligations by competing in another external pageant before finishing her reign.
    — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Buff the area with a clean, dry cloth to finish.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
Definition of finish
Verb
  • The former instantly adds a second layer of security against unwanted guests, and the latter emits an ultra-loud alarm while acting like a door stop wedge, scaring off any stranger who tries to enter your room.
    — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
  • And Los Angeles did not stop there.
    — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
Definition of stop
Verb
  • The fourth inning started with a single by Kirk, concluding an eight-pitch at-bat immediately prior to Varsho’s homer.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Archaeologists concluded the structure was actually a false tomb, or a cenotaph, a type of burial monument erected to honor a deceased person buried elsewhere.
    — Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Definition of conclude
Verb
  • The baby, who initially made good progress after the surgery, died 20 days later.
    — Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 26 Oct. 2025
  • The medical examiner on Friday determined that the student died by suicide.
    — Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of die
Noun
  • Steven Spielberg saw the original cut of the film prior to its release in which Katie dies, and convinced Peli to reshoot the more ominous ending where Featherston simply goes missing.
    — Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Here's the ending of A House of Dynamite, explained.
    — Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
Definition of ending
Noun
  • The enhanced subsidies raised the income limit on who qualified, expanding eligibility to many middle-class people.
    — Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
  • In response, some resettlement groups have been quick to voice concern over the lack of resources and limits on admission of those from other countries.
    — NPR, NPR, 31 Oct. 2025
Definition of limit
Noun
  • One of the most effective vehicles for accomplishing all of this is a charitable remainder annuity trust, known as a CRAT.
    — Andre Pennington, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
  • The prediction of an above-average remainder of the season is based on a combination of factors, including warmer-than-average sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Seas, and an active West African Monsoon.
    — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
Definition of remainder
Noun
  • Whether your goal is to work in government, the private sector, or a nonprofit organization, our curriculum prepares you for diverse roles such as intelligence analyst, foreign service officer, military analyst, or special agent.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • But recent reports show that goal is nowhere near.
    — Matthew Tostevin, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 2025.

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