terminate

1 of 2

verb

ter·​mi·​nate ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt 

terminated; terminating

intransitive verb

1

: to form an ending

2

: to come to an end in time

3

: to extend only to a limit (such as a point or line)

especially : to reach a terminus

transitive verb

1

a

: to bring to an end : close

terminate a marriage by divorce

terminate a transmission line

b

: to discontinue the employment of

workers terminated because of slow business

c

: to form the conclusion of

review questions terminate each chapter

2

: to serve as an ending, limit, or boundary of

3

: assassinate, kill

terminate

2 of 2

adjective

ter·​mi·​nate ˈtər-mə-nət 

: coming to an end or capable of ending

Synonyms

Verb

• close
• close out
• complete
• conclude
• end
• finish
• round (off or out)
• wind up
• wrap up

Choose the Right Synonym for terminate

close, end, conclude, finish, complete, terminate mean to bring or come to a stopping point or limit.

close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.

the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

Examples of terminate in a Sentence

Verb

The branches of that tree terminate in flower clusters.

The rail line terminates in Boston.

You have to terminate the program before the computer will shut down properly.

His contract was terminated last month.

He was terminated last month.

Plans are being made to terminate unproductive employees.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The agreement is contingent upon River Metals terminating shredding in Newport and installing a fire detection system at its facility there. —The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024

Misoprostol is effective at terminating a pregnancy on its own, but is known to cause more discomfort for patients than the two-pill combination. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024

Mifepristone is one of two drugs that work together to terminate a pregnancy, and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration through 10 weeks gestation. —Caroline Kitchener, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024

At the center of the legal battle is the pill mifepristone, which is taken along with another drug to terminate an early pregnancy. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2024

This review said that across all studies of people who took only misoprostol, about 78% had complete abortions, and a viable pregnancy was terminated in more than 93% of the cases. —Jen Christensen, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024

Putney said Reed was terminated from the Sheriff's Office Oct. 10. —Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 22 Mar. 2024

Celebrity Couples Who Broke Up in 2023 Per documents obtained by PEOPLE, Griffin listed their date of separation as Dec. 22, 2023 and requested that the court terminate spousal support for both parties. —Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024

His position was terminated in 2020 along with two others, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal. —Sarah Ritter, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024

Adjective

ChristianaCare, the state’s largest health care system and largest private employer, has stated that all employees must receive the first dose of the vaccine by Sept. 21, or the health system with terminate workers who don’t unless given an exemption. —From Usa Today Network and Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2021

That control gave Puglisi the sole authority to set up new credit card accounts, change spending limits, manage card access and terminate accounts. —Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Latin terminatus, past participle of terminare, from terminus

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

terminate

verb

ter·​mi·​nate

ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt

terminated; terminating

1

a

: to bring or come to an end : close

terminate a meeting

b

: to form the conclusion of

review questions terminate each chapter

2

: to serve as a limit or boundary of : bound

a fence terminated the yard

3

: to reach an end point or line

the racecourse terminates at the park entrance

terminable

ˈtərm-(ə-)nə-bəl

adjective

termination

ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən

noun

terminator

ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt-ər

noun

Legal Definition

terminate

verb

ter·​mi·​nate ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt 

terminated; terminating

intransitive verb

: to come to an end in time or effect

transitive verb

1

: to bring to a definite end especially before a natural conclusion

terminate a contract

compare cancel, rescind

2

: to discontinue the employment of

termination

ˌtər-mə-ˈnā-shən 

noun