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
Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
This new round of chaos only feeds the anxiety that has enveloped the California Democratic Party for months, stirred by fears that the lack of a singular party front-runner might lead to two Republicans winding up on the November ballot.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
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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In all, the 39 Broadway productions (one fewer than the previous week due to Book of Mormon) grossed $38,297,488 for the week ending May 10, a drop of 3% from the previous week and down about 11% from last year at this time.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
12 May 2026
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The Lakers plan to hire two assistant general managers, Rob Pelinka, the team’s president of basketball operations and general manager, said in a season-ending news conference Tuesday after the Lakers were swept out of the Western Conference semifinals by the Oklahoma City Thunder.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Higher gas prices and airfare aren't stopping 45 million Americans from traveling for Memorial Day weekend in 2026, according to AAA's new forecast.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
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There’s been no stopping Garcia in his last two starts.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
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The Bills and Lions both enter this season with Super Bowl aspirations after finishing last season with top-five offenses.—
Amos Morale III,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
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The Denim Trends Forum will provide a look at the Fall/Winter 2027-2028 trends shaping denim, from raw materials and finishing to textures, colors and new responsible developments.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The Ignition plan calls for simpler rovers that can do jobs for a short while before expiring rather than lasting for decades.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
11 May 2026
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Most of the trading was in at-or-near-the-money call contracts that shifted higher as the stock added onto gains throughout the session Friday, with the 100-strike call expiring May 15 the most popular contract by volume and the 95-strike expiring the same day accumulating the most premium traded.—
Oliver Renick,
CNBC,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Early voting is wrapping up in Georgia as the country prepares for a marathon of midterm primaries next week.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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Madrid visit Sevilla on Sunday before wrapping up their season at home against Athletic Club on May 23.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Federal judges allowed all five to resume construction, essentially concluding that the government didn’t show that the national security risk was so imminent that construction must halt.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
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The trek kicks off in September in Detroit before concluding in Atlanta.—
Kiana Mickles,
Pitchfork,
11 May 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 the wake of Spirit Airlines suddenly ceasing operations on May 2, another airline is offering new direct flights – with three new routes coming to Pittsburgh International Airport.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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The album consists of 10 tracks where the challenge has been to evolve without ceasing to be myself.—
Sarah Moreno
May 7,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Winding up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winding%20up. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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