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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Less than a year after ending a European tour, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are headed back out on the Land of Hope and Dreams American tour.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Running back Cam Skattebo, who was putting together a strong rookie campaign for the New York Giants in 2025 before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 8, played for Sac State in 2021 and 2022 before transferring to Arizona State.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When stopping roadside, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails.—
Bay Area Weather Report,
Mercury News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
For years, the staunchest border hawks and hard-liners justified their positions in terms of stopping unlawful immigration.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Italians claimed the gold medal by finishing 4 1/2 seconds faster than the American world record-holders, and that margin was so large that Giovannini pulled his two white-gloved hands together and pressed them to the side of his head at the close, just the way NBA star Curry does.—
Howard Fendrich,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
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Just three courses short of finishing his studies at the seminary, Jackson dropped out to pursue a full-time career in civil rights.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One example is the subsidies for buying insurance that were enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic and lasted for a few years before expiring in 2025.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
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In the second quarter, the Lancers forced a shot clock violation on one possession and forced turnovers on two possessions as the shot clock was seconds away from expiring.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hilary Knight is in her last Olympics, wrapping up a stretch as the face of women’s hockey in the United States.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
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About the time Ryan deployed to Afghanistan in 2017, Sam was wrapping up a degree in marketing and logistics.—
Emma Hurt,
AJC.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Upon concluding her remarks, Gilchrest asked if anyone at the press conference had questions.—
Mikayla Bunnell,
Hartford Courant,
19 Feb. 2026
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The European leg of The Land of Hope and Dreams Tour played to more than 700,000 fans across Europe last spring and summer before concluding in Milan.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
17 Feb. 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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In its final spring prediction before ceasing its 208-year publication, the Farmers' Almanac is predicting a slow start to spring in Wisconsin.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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Yet, without ceasing, another generation of Puerto Ricans pick up the mantle to chant in the streets and fight for their country, out of love for their forefathers and foremothers.—
Taylor Crumpton,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Winding up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winding%20up. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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