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end
/ɛnd/
final part or conclusion
The movie has a happy end.
The movie concludes on a positive note.
general
The final part of something, especially a period of time, an activity, or a story.
At the end of the day, we all went home.
When the day concluded, everyone returned home.
She read the book from beginning to end.
She read the entire book without stopping.
Used for both physical and abstract things (e.g., a road, a relationship, a movie).
general
To come to a finish or stop.
The meeting will end at 5 PM.
The meeting will conclude at 5 PM.
Often used with prepositions like 'in', 'with', or 'by' (e.g., 'end in failure', 'end with a celebration').
general
The furthest or most extreme part or point of something.
He lives at the end of the street.
He resides at the farthest point of the street.
Commonly used for locations (e.g., 'the end of the line').
formal
A purpose or goal.
The end justifies the means.
A goal can justify any method used to achieve it.
Often used in philosophical or moral contexts.
Collocations
at the end ofwhen something finishesin the endfinallyend upto eventually be in a particular place or situation
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Using 'end' vs. 'finish'
'End' is more general and can refer to both time and space (e.g., 'the end of the road', 'the end of the year'). 'Finish' is often used for completing tasks or activities (e.g., 'finish your homework').
Gold Rule
Placement of 'the' with 'end'
Use 'the' when referring to a specific end (e.g., 'the end of the movie'). Omit 'the' when using 'end' as an adverb (e.g., 'She walked end to end').
Word Origin
Old English 'end' (noun and verb), from Proto-Germanic '*andja-', derived from the root '*ant-' meaning 'opposite' or 'front'. Related to Old Norse 'endi' and Old High German 'anti'.
Usage Notes
The noun 'end' is uncountable when referring to the final part of something abstract (e.g., 'the end of the story'). It is countable when referring to a specific instance or location (e.g., 'one of the ends of the rope'). The verb 'end' is regular and takes '-ed' for past tense.
Word Breakdown
end
final part or conclusion
rootEnglish Dictionary