: something that constitutes an end: such as
a
: conclusion
a movie with a happy ending
b
: one or more letters or syllables added to a word base especially in inflection
Examples of ending in a Sentence
I didn't like the book's ending.
Common verb endings in English are “-s,” “-ed,” and “-ing.”
You can often recognize an English adverb by its “-ly” ending.
Recent Examples on the Web
Not even a meta ending that pushes that idea to its logical breaking point can sour you on it.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
Were any alternate endings shot or discussed?
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
How is Frankenstein’s ending different from the book’s ending?
—Yasmeen Hamadeh, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Rather than drive viewers to keep watching, cliffhanger endings can accidentally foreground inaction in the preceding hour.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ending
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.
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
Were any alternate endings shot or discussed?
—Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
How is Frankenstein’s ending different from the book’s ending?
—Yasmeen Hamadeh, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Rather than drive viewers to keep watching, cliffhanger endings can accidentally foreground inaction in the preceding hour.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ending
Cite this Entry
“Ending.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ending. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ending
noun
end·ing
ˈen-diŋ 
: the final part : conclusion, end
a novel with a happy ending
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share