end 1 of 2

verb

Definition of endnext
1
as in to finish
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point let's end the meeting with a short prayer

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2
as in to stop
to bring (as an action or operation) to an immediate end unfortunately, an argument ended their date, and they're still not speaking to each other

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3
as in to conclude
to come to an end a book so good that you hate to see it end

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to die
to stop living a great general, who ended on the field of battle

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

end

2 of 2

noun

ˈend How to pronounce end (audio)
1
as in ending
the stopping of a process or activity the end of hostilities brought general rejoicing

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in limit
a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go I'm at the end of my patience with these little brats

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3
as in remainder
an unused or unwanted piece or item typically of small size or value a couple of ends of wallpaper were all that was left after we finished papering the room

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4
as in goal
something that one hopes or intends to accomplish in this case the ends definitely do not justify the means

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5
as in tip
the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow a child's pair of scissors with blunt ends

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6
as in conclusion
the last part of a process or action the war wasn't yet over, but we were definitely at the beginning of the end

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7
as in perimeter
the line or relatively narrow space that marks the outer limit of something the ends of his shirt cuffs were badly frayed

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8
as in demise
the permanent stopping of all the vital bodily activities Henry Hudson and eight others were set adrift in the bay in a small boat, and how they met their end is unknown

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9
as in portion
something belonging to, due to, or contributed by an individual member of a group keep up your end of the bargain

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb end differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of end are close, complete, conclude, finish, and terminate. While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

When might close be a better fit than end?

In some situations, the words close and end are roughly equivalent. However, close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

When could complete be used to replace end?

While the synonyms complete and end are close in meaning, 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

When can conclude be used instead of end?

The synonyms conclude and end are sometimes interchangeable, but conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

In what contexts can finish take the place of end?

While in some cases nearly identical to end, finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

When is terminate a more appropriate choice than end?

The meanings of terminate and end largely overlap; however, terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of end
Verb
Moussa Diabaté, who ended the game with 11 points, had 11 rebounds in the first half, including eight on the offensive end. — Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2026 Both Yotova and Radev have called for a diplomatic solution to end the war in Ukraine. — Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Noun
Its invention came near the end of the most creative period in the history of the American candy industry. — Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026 Though freezing overnight lows can still be expected throughout the month, afternoon highs are predicted to remain in the 40s before warming to the low 50s by the end of February. — Hali Smith october 25, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for end
Recent Examples of Synonyms for end
  1. finish
  2. stop
  3. conclude
  4. die
  5. ending
  6. limit
  7. remainder
  8. goal
Verb
  • All broadcast pairings eventually end, but for Troy Aikman and Joe Buck to finish like this is both needless, and dirty.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The results were better on Monday, as the Heat’s starting unit finished as a plus-three in 12 minutes together.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of finish
Verb
  • Luigi Carbone, Pope Leo XIV's physician, said the pontiff's recovery from lung cancer surgery won't stop plans for a visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru involving a dozen flights and two helicopter rides to high altitudes.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Another to stop solving problems his team brings him and teach them to solve it instead.
    — Ben Plomion, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of stop
Verb
  • The feat concludes a pursuit that began in 2009, when Zhang first experimented with riding a motorcycle on water and overcame early failures to achieve his latest goal.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The meeting concluded with a general consensus among School Board members and City Council representatives to move forward with feasibility studies, cost breakdowns and formal design reviews before drafting a binding interlocal agreement.
    — Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of conclude
Verb
  • Twenty-one of those who died were from Guatemala, Simmons said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Francis Wanje, 62, told CBS News that eight of his family members, including his daughter and two grandchildren, died as part of the cult.
    — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of die
Noun
  • Even people who like the film will leave yowling at the ending.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • But even though that conclusion would be many times less schmaltzy than the actual film’s ending, Ishiguro won’t give it to us.
    — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of ending
Noun
  • There’s nothing off limits here, nothing too garish to clash with saxophone and strings.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Existing apartments also would not be subject to the rent limits until five years after they were built.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of limit
Noun
  • To be clear, this remains a bull market, the S&P 500's uptrend unbroken, with constant rotations between AI tech and remainder of the market fitfully supporting the tape, with pullbacks limited to 3% for half a year.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The agreement would provide Warner's daughter with the majority remainder of the Warner Family Trust and estate but remains subject to court approval, Pamela Warner's attorneys said.
    — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of remainder
Noun
  • Only 11% said leaving something for the kids is their top financial goal.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Securing public money for them raises issues over church-state separation but fulfills a longstanding goal for Christian conservatives, who lobbied for this funding.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of goal

Phrases Containing end

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encysts
end
endamage
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Cite this Entry

“End.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/end. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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