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end

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noun [countable] American English pronunciation: end /end/ 
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singularend
pluralends
 
  1. 1
    the final part of a period of time
    at the end of something:

    You’re going on vacation at the end of this month, aren’t you?

    by the end of something:

    The work should be completed by the end of the year.

    the very end:

    It was only at the very end of the 19th century that this practice was abolished.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  endThesaurus entry for this meaning of end
    1. a.
      the final part of something such as a book, movie, or piece of music

      You don’t really know what it’s all about until the end.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  endThesaurus entry for this meaning of end
    2. b.
      the time when a situation, event, or series of events stops

      Are you going to stay till the end of the game?

      This agreement could mean the end of the nuclear threat.

      at the end of something:

      At the end of the war the government made many promises for a better future.

      the end of the world:

      Astrologers have been predicting the end of the world ever since the Middle Ages.

      an end to something:

      We want to put an end to discrimination.

      no end in sight to something (=something seems likely to continue):

      There is still no end in sight to the slaughter and the suffering.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  endThesaurus entry for this meaning of end
  2. 2
    the place that is farthest away from the center of a long area or object

    She jumped in the pool at the deep end.

    Take hold of both ends of the rope.

    at the end of something:

    The only door was situated at the end of the corridor.

    the far end:

    They live at the far end of our street.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  endThesaurus entry for this meaning of end
    1. a.
      one of the two halves of the area where a sports game is played
      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  endThesaurus entry for this meaning of end
  3. 3
    [usually plural] formal the reason for a particular action or the result you want to achieve

    He could have achieved his ends by peaceful means.

    for political/commercial etc. ends:

    The government manipulates economic data for political ends.

    for his/her/their etc. own ends:

    She used people for her own ends.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  endThesaurus entry for this meaning of end
  4. 4
    informal the part that you have in an activity or situation

    From our end the situation looks pretty suspicious.

    Kate is more involved in the research end of things.

    someone’s end of the bargain/deal/conversation:

    I’ve kept my end of the bargain (=done what I promised), but he hasn’t kept his.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  endThesaurus entry for this meaning of end
  5. 5
    one of two places connected by a telephone conversation, letter, or journey
    at the other end:

    I’ll be there to pick you up in the car at the other end.

    on the end of something:

    They kept me waiting on the end of the line all afternoon.

    at this/my end:

    It sounds a bit crackly at this end.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  endThesaurus entry for this meaning of end

phrases

This is the American English definition of end. View British English definition of end.

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