26984 words

ends

28 definitions • 60 examples
1
the part of a place or thing that is furthest away from the centre:

Examples:

at the end This cable should have a plug at one end and a socket at the other.
the end of We damaged the end of the piano when we moved it.
Get to the end of the queue and wait your turn like everyone else.
Our house is the third from the end on the left.
Is it safe to stand the computer on (its) end?
2
arranged with one end of next to the end of something else:

Examples:

Tables were arranged end to end across the basketball court.
3
the final part of something such as a period of time, activity, or story:

Examples:

at the end of I always like to leave my desk clear at the end of the day.
The end of the play was much more exciting than I'd expected.
at an end This latest injury must surely mean that her tennis career is now at an end (= finished).
no end to The statement said there would be no end to the violence until the terrorists' demands were met.
4
polite word for death:

Examples:

We were all by her bedside when the end finally came.
meet your end He met his end (= died) in a shoot-out with the police.
5
either of the two halves of the field in some sports:

Examples:

The teams change ends at half-time so that neither side has an unfair advantage.
6
to make something finish:

Examples:

He ran out of time and brought the interview to an end.
7
finally, after something has been thought about or discussed a lot:

Examples:

We were thinking about going to Switzerland, but in the end we went to Austria.
8
for hours, days, etc. without stopping:

Examples:

He used to lock himself in his bedroom for hours on end and refuse to talk to anyone.
9
to finish:

Examples:

Everyone wishes the war would come to an end soon.
10
in sports including curling, bowls, and archery, a part of a game, especially one in which each team or player throws or shoots towards one end of the playing area:

Examples:

It was a close contest that came down to the last stone in the last end.
The Canadians took singles on each of the next three ends.
11
a small part of something that is left after most of it has been used:

Examples:

She makes quilts out of fabric bolt ends.
cigarette end UK The floor was covered in cigarette ends.
12
an aim, intention, or purpose:

Examples:

Do you have a particular end in mind?
13
in order to achieve this aim:

Examples:

He wanted science students to take an interest in the arts, and to this end he ran literature classes at his home on Sunday afternoons.
14
the parts of a task or process connected with one particular type of activity or person:

Examples:

end of things Rick's more involved with the financial end of things.
15
the area of activity for which someone is responsible:

Examples:

We've kept our end of the deal - let's see if they keep theirs.
16
to finish or stop, or to make something finish or stop:

Examples:

When is your meeting due to end?
Her resignation ends months of speculation about her future.
Their marriage ended in 1991.
end in The game ended in a draw.
end with I'd like to end with a song from my first album.
She ended her speech on an optimistic note.
17
the last or farthest part of something or of a period of time, beyond which it does not exist:

Examples:

She tied one end of the rope to a tree.
The punctuation at the end of this sentence is a period.
Did you stay to the end of the movie?
Steve can swim to the far end of the lake and back.
18
To be at an end is to be finished:

Examples:

His career was at an end.
19
If things are end to end, they are all facing in the same direction, with the back end of each against the front end of the next one:

Examples:

The new cars were lined up end to end.
20
a specific part or division of an activity:

Examples:

She takes care of the financial end of the business and I handle the marketing end.
21
something that your actions or efforts are intended to achieve; an aim:

Examples:

To accomplish that end, you will have to work hard and be lucky, too.
22
(in football) one of two players who begin play farthest from the ball:

Examples:

a defensive end
23
to finish or stop, or to make something finish or stop:

Examples:

[ I ] Our arguments always end in tears.
[ T ] She ended her speech on an optimistic note.
24
the time or place that something finishes:

Examples:

The construction will be completed by the end of the year.
Sales are looking good according to the end-of-month report.
We spent a long time looking for a good supplier, but we found one in the end.
There are encouraging signs that the recession has come to an end.
The difficult period we've been through now seems to be at an end.
There is no end to the possible markets for this product.
The meeting room is at the end of the corridor on the right.
25
used when stating whether goods or services are expensive or cheap, or of high or low quality:

Examples:

the bottom/low/top end of the market This basic laptop is aimed at the low end of the market.
26
an aim or purpose:

Examples:

We aim to halve production costs, and to this end we are investing in automating the process.
We see good design not just as a means of increasing profits, but as an end in itself.
27
the parts of a task or process connected with one particular type of activity, or with a particular person:

Examples:

Rick's more involved with the financial end of things.
Everything's ready here, but how are thing's your end?
sb's end of the bargain/deal We kept our end of the bargain, but they failed to meet their deadline.
28
to finish or stop, or to make something finish or stop:

Examples:

What time is your meeting due to end?
Her resignation ends months of speculation about her future.
Our contract with those suppliers ended in April.
end in sth The negotiations ended in failure after three days.
end (sth) with sth I'd like to end my presentation with a little story...

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