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
K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
To Cubbellotti’s surprise and awe more than 100 students inquired, including one, a 21-year-old name John, who wound up being a match.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
Adam B. Vary, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for wind up
Verb
Hole, Oleg and Martin Aminov (Simon J Berger), a petty gun smuggler mistakenly accused of being the serial killer, wind up in a stationary elevator stuck between two floors with an armed Waaler reaching in to grab Oleg’s hair.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
To Cubbellotti’s surprise and awe more than 100 students inquired, including one, a 21-year-old name John, who wound up being a match.
—Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
So this last question has a bit of a windup.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for wind up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wind up
Verb
-
Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s also jointly ended their partnership in July 2025 after finding the venture financially unsustainable, leading to over $50 million in charges for the doughnut company.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Copper fell along with other base metals as investors monitored the uncertainty surrounding US-Iran negotiations to possibly end the war.—
Bloomberg,
Bloomberg,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Asking the engineers to stop designing a firing squad chamber for the state of Idaho to execute death-row prisoners.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Yankees went a perfect 5-for-5 with ABS challenges in Monday’s 2-1 walk-off loss to the Mariners, but that didn’t stop Boone and company from barking at home plate umpire Mike Estabrook.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell and his staff felt Shota Imanaga’s preparation in Arizona provided the perfect platform to bounce back from a rocky ending to 2025.—
Andy Martinez,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
After the story ran, the Department of Transportation sent a crew uptown and patched it, plus a few more nearby, giving our story a happy ending and providing an unusually stark example of what simple accountability journalism can achieve.—
Brendan Ruberry,
semafor.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Passover always starts and finishes in the evening, but traditions can vary depending on geographical location.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
As my colleague Sam McDowell deftly summed up last week, Royals outfielders combined in 2025 to finish last in on-base percentage, 29th in OPS (on-base plus slugging), 29th in home runs and 30th in runs.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His contract does not expire until after the 2028 season.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Her current status expires at the end of April.—
Mathew Miranda
Updated March 31,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In forensic anthropology, this conclusion typically follows analysis of bone condition, degradation and other physical markers that help specialists estimate how long remains have been interred or stored.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Again, there were hints in the data but no definitive conclusions.—
Mariangela Lisanti,
Twin Cities,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
House Republican lawmakers concluded that Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison were aware of billions in widespread fraud in the state’s social service programs, lied about their knowledge of fraud and retaliated against employees who tried to report it.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The piece concluded with its Vivo movement — forceful and alive.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Under the emergency order, the school must immediately cease operations and may not provide massage education services in Texas unless otherwise authorized.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Your intelligence, your generosity, your courage, and your great sensitivity never cease to move me.—
Yi-Jin Yu,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wind up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wind%20up. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
