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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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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Burlington prevailed, 57-54, in a tough road environment against Winchester, ending their conference rival’s undefeated season.—
Justin Barrasso,
Boston Herald,
21 Jan. 2026
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The Chargers’ second consecutive 11-win season came without the aid of their two top tackles, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, who suffered season-ending injuries that forced Harbaugh and Roman to field a patchwork offensive line for most of the season, but especially in the final weeks.—
Elliott Teaford,
Oc Register,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Instead of stopping to help the victim, the driver continued in an unknown direction.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
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The last time Netflix disclosed subscriber figures, at the end of 2024, the streamer counted more than 300 million global subscribers, far ahead of rivals like Disney+, before stopping subscriber disclosures altogether.—
Allie Canal,
NBC news,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Harvard got on the board first in the opening two minutes with Andover native Gwyn Lapp finishing off a tricky bounce in front for a 1-0 lead.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
21 Jan. 2026
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Perimeter shooters went cold, finishing at the rim turned into a mystifying struggle, and the offense wasn’t able to capitalize after creating advantages behind the play by switch-hunting Doncic.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Since that was expiring, voters in November 2024 replaced it with Measure A, a half-cent sales tax for the same purpose.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
17 Jan. 2026
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Republicans said the expansions from the pandemic era went too far and tried to persuade Democrats to fund a temporary spending bill that didn't address the expiring ACA subsidies, with promises of discussing ways to continue the subsidies later.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But in wrapping up a six-month investigation last month, independent counsel Cho’s team concluded that Yoon plotted for over a year to impose martial law to eliminate his political rivals and monopolize power.—
Hyung-Jin Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
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Roland Sands was just wrapping up his surf session at Bolsa Chica State Beach when he got nailed.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Nielsen ratings for Dokoupil's first five days on air showed a 23% drop in viewership from the year prior, when then-anchor Norah O'Donnell was concluding her tenure at the helm of the broadcast.—
Kyler Alvord,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
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The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office in November declined to file criminal charges in the death, concluding there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
15 Jan. 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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That’s because Keats, who died at just 25, was obsessed with the finality of things, with an unavoidable fear of life ceasing to be.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
26 Dec. 2025
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The first step for treating CHS is ceasing marijuana use entirely, Streem said.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
8 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Winding up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winding%20up. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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