1
as in to end
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point
try to wind up the performance, as we're almost out of time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to come to an end
her speeches usually wind up with one last joke
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in ending
the last part of a process or action
wait until the windup of your sales pitch before giving up any information about the product's price point
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 wind up
ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
The thing to watch will be who winds up in the top jobs, hardliners or realists.
—Donald Heflin, The Conversation, 28 Feb. 2026
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
Two and two to Harvey Kuenn, one strike away, Sandy into his windup.
—Steve Futterman, NPR, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wind up
Verb
Sepp Straka wound up winning by one shot, and Lowry wound up getting soaked.
—ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026
The thing to watch will be who winds up in the top jobs, hardliners or realists.
—Donald Heflin, The Conversation, 28 Feb. 2026
Noun
That’s certainly not unique to McCarthy’s work, but the windup rabbit toy in Caveat is distinctly unnerving, thanks in large part to its weirdly human eyes.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
Two and two to Harvey Kuenn, one strike away, Sandy into his windup.
—Steve Futterman, NPR, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wind up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wind up
Verb
-
The three-month meteorological winter period that just ended will be remembered for its wild extremes in temperature across the United States, including deadly, persistent polar blasts and winter storms in the East.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Diallo scored on a dunk, and Nikola Dzepina added a three to end the surge.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
After Elmarko Jackson’s flagrant foul stopping a dunk in transition — the play was called a common foul but quickly upgraded to a flagrant-one — the Jayhawks and Sun Devils came together.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The administration has tried everything in its toolbox to stop it, based on not data or studies or anything much beyond rich-old-man pique.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The ending of the June war between Iran and the US, with Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on a US base in Qatar, felt choreographed.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
And Harper hopes for a different ending in 2027.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Before the final game of the 2022 season, manager Alex Cora said the outfielder’s name before a reporter could even finish asking which of his players most needed to take a leap forward the following year.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
2 Mar. 2026
-
An electric current charged the air as two puzzlers raced to finish first.—
Lia Picard,
AJC.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Venice Film Festival Artistic Director Alberto Barbera, whose current mandate is due to expire after this year’s 83nd edition, has been renewed in the role for 2027 and 2028.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Barbera, whose mandate was due to expire after this year’s 83rd edition, will stay in the role for 2027 and 2028.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Armed with lanterns, loyalty, and very little logic, these unlikely heroes blunder their way to a happy conclusion for all.—
Cincinnati Enquirer,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Per tradition, the Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team’s six seniors will speak to the fans at the conclusion of Saturday’s regular-season finale at Allen Fieldhouse.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some questions may be adapted into full columns, and transcripts of the chats remain available after each session concludes.—
Carolyn Hax,
Washington Post,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Geologists concluded that the boulders formed over four million years as calcite built up around an organic core, which also caused the rocks' striking cracks to form over time.—
Madeline Bilis,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Because of Fertitta’s club ownership, Caesars will likely cease Rockets bets across its holdings if it is sold to Fertitta Entertainment—a notable loss of a competitive NBA team from its online and land-based sportsbook menus.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Once the escort had ceased, Rapo reportedly approached Karzoun in front of Señor Pepe’s restaurant and caused the injuries that would ultimately lead to his death, the lawsuit states.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wind up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wind%20up. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
