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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
For the week ending January 25, 2026 Here are this week’s Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers for fiction, based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide, generously provided by the American Booksellers Association. —Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026 The pursuit ended when the driver sped through the intersection of Arlington Avenue and West 48th Street in Hyde Park and was broadsided by another car, sending the suspects’ vehicle spinning out of control. —Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
Understanding that Mandela’s liberation meant that white-minority rule was coming to an end, the founders trekked into the desert, bought a disused mining town wholesale, and established a colony. —Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026 At least in principle, the establishment of the United Nations and the International Court of Justice after the Second World War should have heralded the end of the imperialist doctrine. —Philip Mullins, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 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
  • But one accolade missing from their long list of achievements is Olympic ice dance gold, having finished just off the podium in fourth in Beijing.
    — Michelle Bruton, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • After interviewing for multiple head coaching jobs this month, McDaniel agreed to join Jim Harbaugh with the Chargers, who finished their second straight 11-6 season under their veteran head coach with another playoff exit in the wild-card round.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026
Definition of finish
Verb
  • Contraceptives acting on spermatogenesis take a few weeks to kick in, and fertility takes a few weeks to return when a man stops using them.
    — Ana Castelain, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Either way, Mahomes’ reaction, and reportedly Belichick’s, doesn’t stop there.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Definition of stop
Verb
  • In the meantime, here are four things (there’s plenty more) to know about the globally renowned festival that concludes Sunday and the one headed to Colorado in January 2027.
    — Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post, 31 Jan. 2026
  • As the Snake year concludes, releasing excess nervous energy becomes essential.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Definition of conclude
Verb
  • Giuffre died by suicide last year at age 41.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Lauryn Hill will perform a tribute to D'Angelo, who died of cancer in October at the age of 51, and Roberta Flack, who died in February at age 88.
    — Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Definition of die
Noun
  • The epic snowy battle scene's twist ending probably had Twi-Hards threatening to run Bill Condon out of business, but everything worked out in the end.
    — Lincee Ray, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
  • The ending left an opening for more episodes.
    — Rich Heldenfels, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
Definition of ending
Noun
  • LiDAR is expensive, radar has limits — so cameras are the likely path.
    — Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • These transfers are subject to annual Roth IRA contribution limits and the beneficiary must have earned income.
    — Natalie Wu, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
Definition of limit
Noun
  • One of the risks of Netflix’s earlier cash-and-stock offer was that a remainder of the final payout to shareholders could fluctuate when WBD was ultimately sold.
    — Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2026
  • Working with tax strategists early allows for structuring opportunities that minimize liability, such as capital gains treatment, deferred compensation, or charitable remainder trusts.
    — John Hall, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Definition of remainder
Noun
  • Pageau smashed home his second goal late in the third to finish off a listless Flyers team.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Playing five games over the course of three days, Willis logged three goals and two assists.
    — Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 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 3 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on end

Nglish: Translation of end for Spanish Speakers

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