end up

phrasal verb

ended up; ending up; ends up
: to reach or come to a place, condition, or situation that was not planned or expected
The book ended up in the trash.
He didn't want to end up like his father.
She ended up a rich woman.
He ended up (living) in a nursing home.
The movie we wanted to see was sold out so we ended up seeing a different one.

Examples of end up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Michelsen served to start this final breaker and ended up double-faulting. Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2025 Fun is also part of it, and cheating also happens, and in real life, many refugees end up working for the mafia to pay their way to safety. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Sep. 2025 Unlike many formulas that start dewy and end up oily, or others that stay flat and one-dimensional from dawn to dusk, this one actually strikes the perfect balance. Lily Wohlner, Allure, 19 Sep. 2025 The chance encounter sparks difficult political and moral conversations between the young lovers, a debate that ends up affecting the entire community. Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for end up

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“End up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/end%20up. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on end up

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!