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end

end

1.0
The final part of something, like an event or story
  • noun
  • /ɛnd/
translation icon : fin
  • So here we are at the end, having learned some things.
  • come to an end
  • put an end to
  • end of the day

And I tell myself, if that's the end, then let it be.

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Examples

  • Now we get toward the end of the presentations.

  • So now it has come to the end of our beach day.

  • And so at the end, I could do nothing.

  • Ah, we have come to the end of the work week.

  • My contract is up at the end of this year.

  • But everything comes to an end at some point.

  • I want a full report at the end of each shift.

  • The coalition finally split at the end of 2014 because of divisions over two proposed laws.

    Academic text (2017)
  • So, in the end, it's not really anyone's fault.

  • At the end of the movie, the audience was left in tears.

Synonyms

ending
vsend
398 1.0

The final part of something, like an event, story, or relationship

is the broad concept covering such final portions
closing
vsend
305 2.3

The last part when something ends, for example a meeting

is the general noun for the last part, not specifically the act
close
vsend
273 1.6

The end of an event, period, or activity

is the broad name for a thing's last part
finale
vsend
180 3.6

The last, most exciting part of a show or event

is the general last section, not necessarily dramatic or climactic
conclusion
vsend
167 2.2

The last part of an event, activity, or piece of writing

is the general term, not only for summarising parts
tail
vsend
70 2.0

The last part of a period or event

is the general final part, not just the rear segment
period
vsend
61 1.2

The end of a situation or activity, for example a long conflict

is the general notion for the last part across contexts
47 4.1

The point when something stops or finishes

is a neutral label for the last part, not idiomatic
finish
vsend
39 1.0

The final part of an event or activity

is the general label for the final part of anything
culmination
vsend
36 6.3

The highest point in a process or event

is the general final part rather than the peak achievement
endgame
vsend
18 5.6

The final stage of talks or a process when the result is decided

is the general final part, not only the decisive last stage
tail end
vsend
13 3.5

The last part of something, especially a period or event

is the general term for the final part, not only the rear portion
endpoint
vsend
11 5.4

A place or time when something ends

is the general idea for the last part, not only location
denouement
vsend
  • Literature
8 8.9

Last part of a story or play that explains what happened

is the broad final section, not limited to story solutions
finito
vsend
  • Informal
6 9.9

The end of an activity or event

is the broader name for the last part, not the exclamation
finis
vsend
  • Archaic
3 9.9

A word used to show the formal end of a book, film or performance

is the general noun for the last part, not a stylistic marker
termination
vsend
3 5.5

The end point of something like a road or tunnel

is the general term for a concluding section rather than boundary
full stop
vsend
  • UK
2 3.6

A complete end to an activity or process

is the broad term that does not demand absolute finality
1 3.1

A time when an activity or event ends

is a general label for a later part or conclusion
terminus
vsend
1 7.5

The final goal of a process or journey

is the general final part, not specifically a destination or goal
end point
vsend
1 3.9

The place or moment when something finishes

is the broad concept for a thing's final position or part
exitus
vsend
  • Archaic
1 9.9

The final result of a process or event

is the general notion of the last part, not only the outcome
terminal point
vsend
  • Specialized
6.3

The last point of a path, journey, or process

is the general term for the last part, not limited to technical use
terminus ad quem
vsend
  • Formal
9.9

The last date when something must happen

is the general final point, not the academic limiting marker
final period
vsend
3.6

The last part of a period of time, for example a school year or concert

is the general term for a last part, not only a time segment
finishing
vsend
2.5

The moment something comes to an end

is the noun for the last part rather than the completing action
fag end
vsend
  • UK
9.9

The last small part of something often thought less important

is the general final section without the negative quality judgement
tag end
vsend
7.3

A small piece left at the very end of cloth or ribbon

is the broader final part, not merely a tiny leftover

Antonyms

1.0

The first part of something when it starts

1.0

The time or place when something begins

Idioms

790 1.0

Finally, after everything has been thought about

end of the world
  • Informal
60 3.7

A situation that seems like a disaster but is often not as bad

to that end
  • Formal
39 4.0

To make that happen

no end
  • Informal
20 7.7

Very much or for a very long time

A sign that a hard time will soon end or get better

The final part of a difficult situation that ends badly

11 7.5

You are unable to deal with something because you have no patience or energy

10 3.7

For many days in a row without stopping

8 8.1

To be told again and again about something you did wrong in an angry way

8 7.1

To get a worse or unfair result than others

8 5.5

Keep doing something until it is completely finished, even when it is very hard

Do what you promised in an agreement

6 7.6

The most important thing or main aim

to end in tears
  • Informal
4 6.0

Finish badly and leave people sad or disappointed after a hopeful start

To have other people keep talking about something embarrassing or annoying

2 4.6

To finish in an exciting and memorable way

end of story
  • Informal
1 5.3

A phrase that shows a decision is final and cannot be discussed

Very tired and cannot deal with a situation any more

1 7.8

To understand how things work in a place or job

1 9.9

A very remote place far from towns and cities

The worst part of a situation that someone gets

1 8.2

To have to do something difficult without preparation

1 7.8

Start a difficult task without much preparation or experience

Continue doing your part for the team when things are hard

the living end
  • Archaic
1 8.2

Something people think is the best and most exciting

A place very far away inside the same country

1 9.9

A very remote place far from towns or cities

1 7.8

Put suddenly into a difficult situation without preparation or help

which end is up
  • Informal
1 9.9

To know what is happening in a confusing situation

To end up by chance with an unpleasant task or in a worse position

to end in smoke
  • Informal
8.1

To fail completely and have no useful result

Finish in a way that leaves people disappointed or unhappy

back end of a bus
  • Offensive
9.9

Something that looks very ugly and unpleasant

A face that people think is very ugly

8.3

To die in a sudden or violent way

To think about things beyond your own immediate needs

A way of looking at a situation that makes small details seem more important than the big picture

Compounds

91 3.6

A situation where no further progress or solution is possible

loose end
  • Informal
57 3.7

An unfinished small task or detail that still needs doing

50 7.9

The final event when God judges all people and decides their eternal fate

The point when something stops or finishes

tight end
  • Jargon
40 6.3

In American football, a player on offense who lines up next to the tackle and blocks and catches passes

28 4.9

A job or situation that gives no chance to move up and get better

28 2.7

A street or road that ends and does not go through

rear end
  • Informal
25 2.0

The soft part of the body you sit on

receiving end
  • Informal
20 4.4

A person or group who faces the bad effects of someone else's action

end user
  • Specialized
20 3.2

People who use a product or service, not makers and sellers

deep end
  • Informal
19 5.6

A difficult situation that forces someone new to cope

15 2.7

The time at the end of the year when businesses check accounts or finish activities

13 4.3

An important time that finishes and many people remember

13 3.5

The last part of something, especially a period or event

10 3.1

A part of west central London known for its theatres and shops

bitter end
  • Informal
9 5.6

The final, most difficult part of something that you keep doing until it ends

9 3.3

A final thing made after a process, like a machine or medicine

8 3.7

A job where you cannot get a better position

back end
  • Specialized
5 3.7

The part of a program that runs on a server and stores and processes data

5 2.0

The part of a pool where the water is not deep and safe for beginners

business end
  • Informal
4 4.7

The part that does the real work, like the sharp end of a knife

4 3.6

The part at the forward side of something that you meet first, like a car's nose

A street that ends at one side so cars cannot drive through

4 3.2

Happening at the end of a company's financial year

3 3.5

The eastern part of central London that has many cultures and lively markets

front end
  • Specialized
3 4.0

The part of a website or app that users see and use

2 6.8

The most important goal or purpose of something

end-to-end
  • Specialized
2 6.0

That protects data so only the sender and receiver can read or change it

2 3.8

The rear part of something opposite the front

hind end
  • Informal
2 3.2

The part at the back of the body that you sit on

end run
  • US
1 7.6

A way of avoiding a rule or decision by acting cleverly

1 4.6

For the whole time from the start to the finish

1 4.2

Arranged one after another so each piece touches the next to form a line

1 7.3

A player who stands wide to catch passes for the team on offense

end of the line
  • Specialized
1 5.3

The character that marks a break between lines of text

end organ
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A small part at the end of a nerve that senses touch or makes a muscle move

1 6.0

The pointed, dangerous part of a thing or the most risky part of a situation

1 7.4

The thicker end of something, often the handle of a tool

1 3.7

A part that sticks out at the back of something like an animal's rear

closed-end fund
  • Specialized
1 7.2

A company that sells a set number of shares that trade on the stock market

1 3.9

The place or moment when something finishes

1 7.7

An indirect way to avoid a rule or problem

end run
  • Jargon
1 6.5

An attempt to move the ball by running around the end of the line in American football

1 6.2

A decision about medical care when a person is near death, whether to continue life-saving treatment or focus on comfort

1 7.9

At the far end of a seaside pier that has simple shows, cafes and small attractions

A part of central London with many theatres and shops

Wealthy, powerful people who make major business or political decisions

bitter end
  • Specialized
9.9

The inner end of a rope or chain that is fastened to a ship

box end wrench
  • Specialized
5.9

A wrench with a closed ring end that fits over a nut or bolt

A company that issues a fixed number of shares which are traded on a stock market

8.6

A person standing at one end of a row of people

end man
  • Archaic
9.9

A performer at one end of a line in an old minstrel show who speaks and makes people laugh

end matter
  • Specialized
6.5

Written pages after the main text that give extra information, like an index or a list of sources

end point
  • Specialized
3.9

A network address where a service sends or receives data

A light, funny show on a British seaside pier with songs and jokes

end-plate
  • Specialized
8.4

The flat end of a nerve that sends signals to a muscle

fag end
  • Archaic
9.9

A frayed end of a piece of cloth or rope

fag end
  • UK
9.9

The last small part of something often thought less important

motor end plate
  • Specialized
7.5

The place where a nerve connects to a muscle to make it move

6.9

A triangular wall at the end of a building under the sloping roof

genetic dead end
  • Specialized
8.2

A species or group that cannot have young and so ends its family line

idiot end
  • Informal
9.9

A foolish ending that gives no useful result

nerve end
  • Specialized
5.8

The small tip of a nerve that sends and receives signals

open-end credit
  • Specialized
6.2

A borrowing plan that lets you borrow up to a set limit and use it again as you repay

open-end fund
  • Specialized
6.9

A company that sells and buys shares directly at their daily price

8.1

A company that sells and buys back shares any time at a price based on its assets

open-end wrench
  • Specialized
4.5

A tool with two flat open jaws that grip nuts or bolts

9.9

A thin, lean piece from the neck of lamb or veal for cooking

7.3

A small piece left at the very end of cloth or ribbon

The most expensive area of a town where rich people live

The pointed end of a stick that can cut or poke

sticky end
  • Specialized
8.8

A short DNA end where one strand hangs out and joins a matching strand

sticky end
  • Archaic
7.7

A bad ending that often leaves someone hurt or killed

How Final

termination
  • Formal
56 4.7
finale
180 3.6
end
1.0
closing
305 2.3
to wrap up
226 3.0

Surface Forms

end singular
ends plural

Etymology

The word end comes from an old German word meaning 'limit' or 'boundary', so it originally meant the final part or stopping point of something.