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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Relevance

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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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
Even once your vacation ends, this skirt is easy to wear casually hanging out with friends, out on a dinner date, or even into the office. —Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026 Many of world literature’s most unlikable protagonists start unlikeable and end unlikeable. —Big Think, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
Included among them, earning his scholarship at the end of his redshirt freshman season in 2022 and then later being a second-team All-American as a junior in 2024 and first-team All-SEC selection last season. —David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026 By the end of the day, 14 more butterflies have a new home. —Itay Hod, CBS News, 28 Apr. 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
  • TikTok followers watched along as Jessica Kayll, who designs colorful silk robes, finished painting her dress in the days leading up to the gala.
    — Beatrice Dupuy, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
  • But Embiid attempted only three more free throws for the rest of the game, finishing 8-of-9.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 5 May 2026
Definition of finish
Verb
  • Quin Snyder’s Towns wrinkle stalled the Knicks briefly, then stopped working.
    — C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The workers get ordered to start jobs, stop jobs, ignore jobs and are other things that turn them into ping pong balls, with the Butleys and the del Valles as the paddles.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Definition of stop
Verb
  • Schleifer and the Stallions boys and girls tennis teams concluded the season by sweeping the 2A state championships at Red Bug Lake Park in Casselberry near Orlando.
    — Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 2 May 2026
  • The offseason program then concludes before training camp begins in July.
    — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2026
Definition of conclude
Verb
  • Alfredrick Hughes, Loyola’s all-time leading scorer who helped the Ramblers end a 16-year NCAA Tournament drought during his All-America senior season, died Friday.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
  • Game 7 is where tall tales begin and dreams die.
    — John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Definition of die
Noun
  • This happy ending was by no means guaranteed, and Habermas’s work as a theorist and polemicist made an important contribution to it.
    — Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 3 May 2026
  • With the biopic undergoing 22 additional shooting days last May to film a new ending, Deadline reported that Lionsgate was considering splitting the film into two parts.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 3 May 2026
Definition of ending
Noun
  • In the world of Kirkslop, there are no limits, or logic, to whom Kirk can or cannot be.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The intuitive Moon opposes Mars, creating tension between emotional needs and practical limits.
    — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of limit
Noun
  • Perhaps even a rag-tag group of remainders can put a scare into San Antonio.
    — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 1 May 2026
  • The best-case scenario would be for the Lakers’ remainders to extend the best-of-seven series with the Rockets long enough for Doncic and Reaves to rejoin LeBron James in that Big Three, either at the end of this series or the start of the next one.
    — Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 13 Apr. 2026
Definition of remainder
Noun
  • Hitting the ball the other way was one of Ohtani’s goals.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2026
  • The project brings together nearly 60 students from a wide range of majors, from engineering to communications, all working toward a common goal.
    — Jamal Goss, CBS News, 4 May 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 5 May. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of end for Spanish Speakers

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