Example sentence with word end?

Example: The race car crossed the finish line, signifying the end of a long and grueling competition

What is end? Pronunciation and usage in English

end means . Learn how to pronounce and use end through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of end

endnoun/verb

/ɛnd/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "end" in English. There are actually two common pronunciations, and it depends a little on where you are and the kind of "end" you're talking about.

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (pronounced like "end" in "attend"):

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet): /ɛnd/
How to say it: Think of the word "attend." The "end" sound is almost identical. It's a short, open vowel sound. Your mouth is slightly open, and your tongue is relatively low.
Emphasis: The emphasis is on the first syllable ("en").

2. The Older/More Formal Pronunciation (pronounced like "end" in "bend"):

IPA: /ɪnd/
How to say it: This pronunciation sounds more like the word "in" followed by "d." It's a shorter, more deliberately pronounced sound.
Usage: You're less likely to hear this pronunciation in modern American English, especially in conversation. It’s more common in British English and sometimes in more formal contexts.

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you choose:

Most of the time (American English): Use /ɛnd/ (like "attend").
Sometimes (British English or formal): Use /ɪnd/ (like "in" + "d").

Resources to Hear the Pronunciation:

Google Translate: https://translate.google.com/?hl=en&sl=en&tl=en&text=end - You can click the speaker icon to hear both pronunciations.
Youglish: https://youglish.com/w/end - This website shows you how "end" is pronounced in real-world videos.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

Where are you from (generally – e.g., USA, UK, Australia)?
Are you trying to use a specific pronunciation for a particular reason (e.g., for a class, for a recording)?

Usage and examples with the word end in English

Let's break down how to use the word "end" in English. It's a really versatile word with lots of different meanings and usages. Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. As a Verb (Action): To Finish

To cease or stop: This is the most common meaning.
- “The movie ends at 10 pm.” (It finishes at 10 pm)
- “Please end this meeting.” (Stop the meeting)
- “The storm will end soon.” (It will stop)
- “He ended the phone call.” (He finished the phone call)
To come to an end: General completion.
- “The project ended last week.” (It finished last week)
- “The war ended in a stalemate.” (It finished without a clear winner)
- “Her career ended tragically.” (It finished with a sad outcome)
To finish (a task, game, etc.):
- “I ended the game with a score of 100.” (I finished the game)
- “Let’s end this discussion.” (Let’s conclude the discussion)

2. As a Noun (Thing): The Finish, Conclusion

The final part of something: The very last stage.
- “The end of the road.” (The last part of the road)
- “What is the end result?” (What is the final outcome?)
- “I’m at the end of my rope.” (I'm at my limit)
An ending, conclusion, or termination:
- “The end of the book was surprising.” (The conclusion of the book was surprising)
- “There was a sudden end to the negotiations.” (There was a sudden conclusion to the negotiations)
A border or edge: Parts of objects.
- “The end of the table.” (The right side of the table)
- “The end of the pen.” (The tip of the pen)

3. As a Preposition (Location/Relationship): At the Point of

At the furthest point: Describes location.
- “He’s at the end of the line.” (He’s at the furthest point of the line)
- “We reached the end of the tunnel.” (We reached the furthest point of the tunnel)

4. Idiomatic Expressions (Common Phrases)

To meet one's end: To die
- “The dinosaur met its end millions of years ago.”
The bitter end: A sad or unhappy ending.
- “Despite their efforts, the project had a bitter end.”
To bring something to a close: To finish something definitively.
- “Let’s bring this discussion to a close.”

Tips for Using "End" Correctly:

Context is key: The meaning of "end" depends entirely on how it's used in the sentence.
Watch for verb forms: “End” can be the base form (to end), the past tense (ended), the present participle (ending), and the past participle (ended).
Consider synonyms: Sometimes synonyms like "finish," "conclude," "terminate," or "complete" might be more precise.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

What specifically are you trying to do with the word "end"? (e.g., "I'm writing a story and need help with the ending," or "I want to understand how to use 'end' in different sentence structures.")
Can you give me an example sentence you're struggling with?

Synonyms for the word end

Idioms of the word end

at the end of the day

(informal)used to introduce the most important fact after everything has been considered

At the end of the day, he'll still have to make his own decision.

at a loose end

(informal)having nothing to do and not knowing what you want to do

Come and see us, if you're at a loose end.

a bad/sticky end

(British English, informal)something unpleasant that happens to somebody, for example punishment or a violent death, usually because of their own actions

He'll come to a sticky end one of these days if he carries on like that.

be at the end of something

to have almost nothing left of something

I'm at the end of my patience.
They are at the end of their food supply.

be at the end of your tether

(informal)to feel that you cannot deal with a difficult situation any more because you are too tired, worried, etc.

You’d better let her know you’re safe. She’s at the end of her tether.

be at/on the receiving end (of something)

(informal)to be the person that an action, etc. is directed at, especially an unpleasant one

She found herself on the receiving end of a great deal of criticism.

be at your wits’ end

(informal)to be so worried by a problem that you do not know what to do next

She was at her wits’ end wondering how she’d manage it all in the time.
I'm at my wits' end trying to cope with his moods.

be the end

(British English, informal)when you say that people or situations are the end, you mean that you are annoyed with them

the beginning of the end

the first sign of something ending

The scandal was the beginning of the end of his career as a politician.

burn the candle at both ends

to become very tired by trying to do too many things and going to bed late and getting up early

an end in itself

a thing that is itself important and not just a part of something more important

For her, shopping had become an end in itself.
For her, travelling had become an end in itself rather than a means of seeing new places.

the end justifies the means

(saying)bad or unfair methods of doing something are acceptable if the result of that action is good or positive

He defended a morality in which the end justifies the means.
That's only OK if you believe that the end justifies the means.

(reach) the end of the line/road

(to reach) the point at which something can no longer continue in the same way

A defeat in the second round marked the end of the line for last year's champion.
The loss of this contract could signal the end of the line for the shipyard.
This latest disagreement could mean the end of the road for the band.

end of story

used when you are stating that there is nothing more that can be said or done about something

If she doesn’t agree, I won’t go ahead. End of story.

end to end

in a line, with the ends touching

They arranged the tables end to end.

get/have your end away

(British English, slang)to have sex

get the short end of the stick

to be the person in a group who is chosen or forced to perform an unpleasant duty or task

get (hold of) the wrong end of the stick

(British English, informal)to understand something in the wrong way

go off the deep end

(informal)to suddenly become very angry or emotional

go to the ends of the earth

to do everything possible, even if it is difficult, in order to get or achieve something

I'd go to the ends of the earth to see her again.

in the end

after a long period of time or series of events

He tried various jobs and in the end became an accountant.
In the end, they decided to spend Christmas at home.

after everything has been considered

You can try your best to impress the interviewers but in the end it's often just a question of luck.

jump/be thrown in at the deep end

(informal)to start or be made to start a new and difficult activity that you are not prepared for

Junior hospital doctors are thrown in at the deep end in their first jobs.
The company believes in throwing new employees in at the deep end with no training.

keep your end up

(British English, informal)to continue to be cheerful in a difficult situation

light at the end of the tunnel

something that shows you are nearly at the end of a long and difficult time or situation

For the first time since the start of his treatment, we can now see light at the end of the tunnel.

make (both) ends meet

to earn just enough money to be able to buy the things you need

Many families struggle to make ends meet.

make somebody’s hair stand on end

(informal)to shock or frighten somebody

a chilling tale that will make your hair stand on end

a means to an end

a thing or an action that is not interesting or important in itself but is a way of achieving something else

He doesn't particularly like the work but he sees it as a means to an end.
I don't enjoy studying computing—it's just a means to an end.

no end

(informal)very much

It upset me no end to hear they'd split up.

no end of something

(informal)a lot of something

We had no end of trouble getting them to agree.

not the end of the world

(informal)not the worst thing that could happen to somebody

Failing one exam is not the end of the world.
It won't be the end of the world if you don't get the job.

not/never hear the end of it

to keep being reminded of something because somebody is always talking to you about it

If we don't get her a dog we'll never hear the end of it.

on end

in a position standing upright rather than lying flat

It'll fit if you stand it on end.
Stand the box on end.
Stand it on end.

for the stated length of time, without stopping

He would disappear for weeks on end.

put an end to yourself | put an end to it all

to kill yourself

the rough end of the pineapple

(Australian English, informal)a situation in which somebody is treated badly or unfairly

the sharp end (of something)

(British English, informal)the place or position of greatest difficulty or responsibility

He started work at the sharp end of the business, as a salesman.

the thin end of the wedge

(especially British English)an event or action that is the beginning of something more serious and/or unpleasant

The introduction of a tax on workplace parking is seen by many as the thin end of the wedge.

to/until the bitter end

continuing until you have done everything you can, or until something is completely finished, despite difficulties and problems

They were prepared to fight to the bitter end for their rights.
We will fight this case to the bitter end.