to signal the end

5 4.1

To show that something is finished

phrasal verb

: señalar el final

In September, the nights begin to freshen in central Senufoland, signaling the end of the rainy season.
signal the end of an era

Examples

The warning bell on the projector chimes three times, signaling the end of the reel.

Fiction book (2001)
The action at a special meeting of the school's board signaled the end of an era.

Academic text (2016)
All those late summer smells signal the end of something and the beginning of something else.

Fiction book (1999)
Oh, darn it, that signals the end of our game.

Woman of the Hour (2024)
In their minds, the conclusion of the tests seems to signal the end of the academic experience.

Academic text (2002)
It's a school bell signaling the end of the period.

Fiction book (1993)
The bell clanged, signaling the end of the second academic period.

Fiction book (1993)
The disintegration of the Soviet Union signaled the end of the bipolar Cold War system.

Academic text (1994)
Domick's musicians began to play a solemn and majestic piece to signal the end of the ceremonies.

Fiction book (1991)
The referee's whistle signaled the end of the match.

Synonyms

to end

vsto signal the end

∞ 1.0

To stop something or make it finish

is about showing something is over rather than causing the stop

to finish

vsto signal the end

∞ 1.0

To bring something to an end or complete it

is about showing something is over rather than completing every part

to close

vsto signal the end

∞ 1.0

To finish an event, meeting, or activity

is about showing something is over rather than making it official

to wrap up

vsto signal the end

226 3.0

Finish an activity or task

is about showing something is over rather than completing the work

to conclude

vsto signal the end

208 3.1

To finish an activity or event

is about showing something is over rather than actively bringing it to a close

to finish up

vsto signal the end

190 2.0

To complete an activity or task

is about showing something is over rather than doing the last parts

to terminate

vsto signal the end

147 4.6

To make something stop or finish

is about showing something is over rather than forcing it to stop

to put an end to

vsto signal the end

131 3.0

To make something stop completely

is about showing something is over rather than causing it to stop

to finalize

vsto signal the end

74 3.8

Complete the last details to make something ready

is about showing something is over rather than settling final details

to sign off

vsto signal the end

37 3.8

To end a broadcast or show, usually with a final remark

is about showing something is over rather than doing the stopping

to finish off

vsto signal the end

31 2.5

To complete the last part of a task

is about showing something is over rather than performing the final act

to come to a close

vsto signal the end

22 3.5

To end, often after a meeting or event

is about showing something is over rather than arriving at it

to tie up

vsto signal the end

22 3.3

Finish the last small details to complete something

is about showing something is over rather than doing administrative closure

to wind up

vsto signal the end

17 3.7

Bring an activity or meeting to an end

is about showing something is over rather than doing the finishing work

to finish out

vsto signal the end

11 4.0

To complete something by adding the final touches

is about showing something is over rather than adding final touches

to close the book on

vsto signal the end

Informal

5 5.3

Decide that a matter has ended and do nothing more about it

is about showing something is over rather than deciding to stop future action

to call it stumps

vsto signal the end

9.6

To stop working or playing and finish for now

is about showing something is over rather than making the declaration

Surface Forms

signal the end infinitive

signaled the end past

signaled the end past participle

signaling the end present participle

signals the end third person singular

Morphology

signal + the + end

The meaning 'to indicate that something has come to a conclusion' is directly and compositionally derived from 'signal' (to indicate) combined with 'the end' (the final point). This is a standard verb + noun phrase pattern common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Signal the end comes from everyday signs like a bell, whistle or flag that tell people an event is finished. So when something acts as a signal and the end comes, it means it shows that something 'is finished'.