End Meaning

UK /ɛnd/
US /ɛnd/
Word Definition
end meaning

End Definition & Usage

noun

The point or period at which something finishes or terminates.

Examples

  • "The movie had a surprising end that nobody expected."
  • "She reached the end of her journey and felt a sense of relief."
  • "The end of the concert was marked by a grand fireworks display."
  • "After hours of negotiation, the talks finally came to an end."
  • "The book's ending was both satisfying and thought-provoking."
verb

To bring something to a conclusion or stop it from continuing.

Examples

  • "They decided to end the meeting early due to time constraints."
  • "You can end the call by pressing the red button."
  • "The singer's career ended after a long and successful run."
  • "I ended my subscription to the magazine because it was no longer relevant."
  • "The company plans to end its partnership with the supplier next year."
noun

A limit or boundary beyond which something cannot proceed.

Examples

  • "The end of the road is just ahead, so we’ll need to turn back."
  • "He reached the end of the line and had to make a decision."
  • "At the end of the park, there’s a beautiful lake."
  • "The end of the field was lined with trees."
  • "There was no way to continue past the end of the bridge."
noun

The final stage or phase of a process or series of events.

Examples

  • "We're now in the endgame of the competition."
  • "The end of the semester is approaching, and exams are just around the corner."
  • "He’s been working on the end of the project for weeks now."
  • "At the end of the race, only a few competitors remained."
  • "The team managed to score a goal in the final seconds of the match, securing their victory at the end."

Cultural Context

The word 'end' originates from Old English 'endian,' meaning 'to terminate.' It has evolved into a common term used across various contexts, from time and space to limits and conclusions. It appears in both literal and figurative expressions, and is fundamental in discussing completion, closure, or finality in events, processes, and life experiences.

The Last Chapter

Story

The Last Chapter

Emily had spent years writing her novel, a labor of love that had taken over her life. As she sat at her desk, her fingers hovered above the keyboard, poised to write the final sentence. It was the end of the journey, the end of the process that had begun so many years ago when she first dreamt of becoming a writer. Her mind wandered back to the countless drafts, revisions, and the ups and downs she had faced along the way. There had been moments when she felt like giving up, but the end of the story always seemed to pull her back. Now, as she gazed out the window at the golden sunset, she knew this was it—the end of the book. Her phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. It was Tom, her editor. ‘How’s it going?’ he asked. ‘I’m about to finish,’ she replied, her voice filled with a mixture of excitement and exhaustion. ‘Just a few more paragraphs and I’ll be done. It’s almost the end of everything we’ve worked for.’ Tom chuckled. ‘Well, the end is just the beginning of something new, right?’ he said, reminding her that the true end of the book marked the start of her new chapter as a published author. Later that evening, Emily sat with her friends, celebrating the completion of her work. ‘So, how do you feel now that it’s finally at an end?’ one of them asked. Emily smiled. ‘It’s a strange feeling. I’ve come to the end of one journey, but it feels like the beginning of another.’ That night, as she lay in bed, Emily thought about the meaning of endings in life. Every end, she realized, was just another form of transition, a passage to something else. The end of her novel was not truly the end—it was just the end of one chapter, the final period in a story that was always unfolding.

The Last Chapter