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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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
Price increases could be especially stark in individual coverage marketplaces, where insurers also are predicting the federal government will end some support that helps people buy coverage. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 10 Sep. 2025 Instead of ending content moderation, revise it and correct flaws. —Steven Stalinsky, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
See rules for Competitive Wordle toward the end of this post. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 In the end, Sutton-Schulman won the Triangle Springs appeal, but Highmark classified L’s treatment at Menninger as two separate admissions. —Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 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
  • When Calgary finished a disappointing fifth in the Pacific Division in 2023-24 and missed the playoffs by 17 points, that set the stage for Markstrom’s trade to the New Jersey Devils and opened the door for Wolf.
    — Carol Schram, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Hubbard finished the game with 16 carries for 57 yards.
    — DIAMOND VENCES, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of finish
Verb
  • Nothing better than putting down the top and driving beautiful roads just after the rain stops and the air is powerfully charged by the nearby ocean, scrubbed clean.
    — Mark Ewing, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • In fact, water levels at Lake Powell, one of the main water storage reservoirs for the Colorado River Basin, could fall low enough to stop hydropower generation at the reservoir by December 2026, according to the NOAA report.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of stop
Verb
  • Amazon Prime Video’s six-part thriller concluded with an ending that cannonballed into new territory and paddled swiftly away from the ending of Michelle Frances’ 2017 novel of the same name.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Trump was right again in concluding that the Federal Reserve has been too late in responding to the deterioration of the job market.
    — Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of conclude
Verb
  • Kirk promised that her husband will not have died in vain and said that instead his message would only become stronger.
    — Michael Loria, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Daniel Crémieux, founder of the French menswear brand Crémieux, died Friday at age 87 at his home in Aix-en-Provence, France, surrounded by his family.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 2025
Definition of die
Noun
  • The moment carried extra weight because this wasn’t just a season ending.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • But this time, quarterback Conner Harrell took command, helping coach Tim Albin earn his first win as the 49ers’ head coach, rewriting an ending that felt all too familiar for 15,681 Charlotte fans in attendance.
    — Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 14 Sep. 2025
Definition of ending
Noun
  • For 2026, the dollar limits used to determine the deduction under section 219(g) for active participants in certain pension plans are expected to be $81,000 for single taxpayers, $129,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly, and zero dollars for married taxpayers filing separately.
    — KELLY PHILLIPS ERB, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • In the past, the Commission has excluded satellite internet systems, citing their lower adoption rates and capacity limits.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 11 Sep. 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
  • Create a list of 20-30 companies aligned with your career goals.
    — Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
  • China’s already reached its goal of getting 300 million people involved.
    — Russell Flannery, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 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 15 Sep. 2025.

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