as in ending
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1
as in finishing
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stopping
to come to an end
her speeches usually wind up with one last joke
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of winding up
Tom Philp, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
The water is naturally filtered in the wetlands before winding up back in the reservoirs.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2025
Bianka could be seen winding up and then throwing an impressive pitch down the plate at Dodgers Stadium to be caught by right fielder Mookie Betts, in a video shared on X by a Los Angeles Lakers fan account.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025
The Biden administration took a more restrictive approach toward the export of American AI, primarily through limits on chip sales that sought to prevent the key hardware from winding up in the hands of foreign adversaries such as China.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 30 July 2025
Verb
Newsom is winding up eight years as governor with a mixed record at best.
—Tom Philp, Mercury News, 8 Jan. 2026
The water is naturally filtered in the wetlands before winding up back in the reservoirs.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2025
Bianka could be seen winding up and then throwing an impressive pitch down the plate at Dodgers Stadium to be caught by right fielder Mookie Betts, in a video shared on X by a Los Angeles Lakers fan account.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025
The Biden administration took a more restrictive approach toward the export of American AI, primarily through limits on chip sales that sought to prevent the key hardware from winding up in the hands of foreign adversaries such as China.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 30 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winding up
Verb
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The cliffhanger ending is jaw-droppingly intense, but there is also an emotional fallout for Scarpetta and her family.—
Emily Zemler,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Pinch-hitter Logan Wade followed with a game-ending popout to Moon, and the first baseman threw his glove high in celebration.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Rather than stopping disagreements from happening, this aspect is about repairing any damage left behind.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
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Tuesday’s game featured intentional clock-stopping, game-extending fouls by the Heat.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Doncic missed his first five shots before finishing the period two for 10.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Adebayo set a new franchise record for the most points by a Heat player in a game, finishing Tuesday’s win with an eye-opening 83 points on 20-of-43 shooting from the field, 7-of-22 shooting on threes and 36-of-43 shooting from the foul line in 42 minutes.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The applicant’s passport must be expiring within 1 year or have expired less than 5 years ago.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
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As in the first-round pick still due Charlotte that accompanied the expiring contract of Kyle Lowry in the Heat’s January 2024 trade for Rozier.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As such, Godflesh will cease to perform live starting immediately, and are wrapping up their remaining two albums that were already underway.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
5 Mar. 2026
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In a few days federal funding will be ending for pediatric brain tumor research, and doctors and families are wrapping up clinical trials and trying to transition the lifesaving work elsewhere.—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In February, the justices ruled 6-3 that the president lacked broad authority to impose tariffs without congressional approval, concluding that such powers rest with Congress.—
Taylor Millard,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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Miller said that the site is inspected once a month, and that Oncor has performed an environmental assessment on the site concluding that there are no hazards associated with it.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Garden centers aren't giving a refund for a dying or dead plant but rather a discount on a new purchase.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The White House budget chief’s reported aversion to seeing the deficit widen further on the back of a bigger military bill highlights a phenomenon observed by historian Niall Ferguson, who has said any great power that spends more on debt servicing than on defense risks ceasing to be a great power.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
24 Feb. 2026
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Please keep praying without ceasing.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Winding up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winding%20up. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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