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
One car caught fire; another just kept driving until its unnerved passengers requested to end the ride. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Tagovailoa's pass for Drake London was intercepted by Hamilton to end the game. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
Noun
At the quiet end of town, the old windmill evokes a more rustic age gone by. — Rick Steves, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 2026 There have been more than a dozen strikes on shipping since the end of September, reducing the volume of oil transiting the strait and keeping crude prices above $100 a barrel. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2026 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
  • The image is then precision-fabricated into a 3D model that’s finished by hand — all for $2,200, about the national average of an actual wedding gown.
    — Ari Stark, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Chocolate moelleux and tropical sorbet, both elevated with a flavoured crumble (cardamom and lime, respectively) finished off the meal with a satisfying hit of sweetness.
    — Julia Wytrazek, TheWeek, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of finish
Verb
  • The city’s public works team and its Parks, Recreation and Marine bureau were working to secure it, putting up sandbags and rebuilding the berm to stop water intrusion.
    — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Kodiak says its autonomous system is designed to identify emergency vehicles, stopped vehicles, lane closures and accident scenes.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of stop
Verb
  • There is something instructive in the agent concluding a diatribe on quelling revolutionary violence with a note about feeling inspired.
    — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Research on hitting objects does not support it as a way to reduce anger, and there are too few studies of screaming to conclude its effects.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of conclude
Verb
  • Composer Ghulam Mohammed died in 1968 after writing the songs, leaving Naushad to complete the background score.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Ryder’s Law was reintroduced this year after another carriage horse collapsed and died in Central Park, and in a separate incident, tourist Romanch Mahajan, 18, died after falling off a carriage after the operator lost control.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of die
Noun
  • Related Stories Below, Variety has gathered the five biggest differences between the book and the film, from one jaw-dropping scene the movie adds to the much darker ending of the book.
    — William Earl, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • That material teased Beyond’s continuation of Across the Spider-Verse’s ending.
    — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of ending
Noun
  • Items for babies and children up to age three face the strictest limits.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Practicing attorneys who specialize in financial services and debt collection interviewed by The Star were split over whether the 15% limit applies to medical debt.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of limit
Noun
  • The agreement would provide Warner's daughter with the majority remainder of the Warner Family Trust and estate but remains subject to court approval, Pamela Warner's attorneys said.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Former Stars coach Lorne Donaldson also will rejoin the team as interim director of coaching for remainder of the year.
    — Anne M. Peterson, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of remainder
Noun
  • England, which aims to eliminate the virus by 2030, has already met its goal of treating 80% of its hepatitis C infections.
    — Philip A. Chan, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Clients meet with their advisor periodically to discuss priorities and review progress on financial goals.
    — Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
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 14 Oct. 2026.

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