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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Trump's biggest policy goals are currently beyond reach Trump has some big goals in the region for his second term: end fighting in Gaza, stop Iran's advances toward becoming a nuclear power and persuade Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel by joining what's known as the Abraham Accords. —Tamara Keith, NPR, 10 May 2025 The legislature passed nearly 500 bills in its 120 days of work, which ended about 7:20 p.m. as the House adjourned, shortly after the Senate. —The Denver Post, Denver Post, 10 May 2025
Noun
Gonzales said the $50 million in support for medications would not stop flowing at the end of the year, giving the current Zambian government time to procure medications in the hope of avoiding shortages. —Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 9 May 2025 The company’s new survey found that 57% of motorists were actively comparison shopping at the end of 2024, compared to 49% at the same time in 2023. —Dan Avery, CNBC, 9 May 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
  • That team finished 7-9. 2002 Dallas Cowboys: Chad Hutchinson, Quincy Carter.
    — Jim Reineking, USA Today, 13 May 2025
  • Baltimore finished its trip by winning for only the second time in eight games.
    — Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
Definition of finish
Verb
  • One day, a man named Harold McPherson stopped to answer her, and not long after, the two married.
    — Dorothy Fortenberry, The Atlantic, 12 May 2025
  • Parts of the river so choked by weed that boat traffic was stopped were clear within days.
    — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2025
Definition of stop
Verb
  • Their domestic intelligence agency concluded an investigation into a far-right political party known as AFD.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 4 May 2025
  • The episode concluded with Ellie and Dina (Isabela Merced) leaving Jackson, Wyoming, and heading to Seattle against town orders.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 4 May 2025
Definition of conclude
Verb
  • After her victory, France paid tribute to her son Henry, who died from leukemia last year.
    — Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
  • Steven Burns is about to get another chance to convince commissioners that the same man who left Catina to die that night, is a changed man.
    — Erin Moriarty, Liza Finley, CBS News, 4 May 2025
Definition of die
Noun
  • The ending isn’t a surprise—Alonso eventually re-signed with the Mets.
    — Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 8 May 2025
  • In a letter addressed to Bisignano, a group of GOP representatives said they were concerned regarding SSA staffing cuts and the ending of office leases.
    — Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
Definition of ending
Noun
  • Richter seems to reject the notion of typology altogether, pushing instead the idea of visual equivalence to its limits, exposing how images (regardless of weight or meaning) can be trivialized through repetition.
    — Nargess Banks, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
  • The feeling of being able to push your body past its limits will give you the confidence to do amazing things in all the other areas in your life.
    — Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025
Definition of limit
Noun
  • Just four songs in, Tesfaye’s failing voice necessitated the cancelation of the gig’s remainder.
    — Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
  • Mikal Bridges started, played a ceremonial, singular minute to preserve his perfect attendance streak, then hit the bench for remainder of the afternoon.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of remainder
Noun
  • Bennett fired a wrist shot that flew past Andrei Vasilevskiy. Panthers goal.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 May 2025
  • Which is sort of ironic, given the current goals of the administration.
    — Camila Domonoske, NPR, 1 May 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 May. 2025.

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