end
end — verb
- endpresent simple I / you / we / they
- ends3rd person singular
- ending-ing form
- endedpast simple
1. to reach a point where something stops happening or no longer exists — for examp
to reach a point where something stops happening or no longer exists — for example, a film ending, a relationship ending, or a period of time ending
The film ended with a dramatic scene that made everyone cry.
end with + noun (final item)
Hana's friendship with Ishaan ended after a silly misunderstanding.
The school year ends in June, and students get a long summer break.
Many old traditions end when the people who practised them grow old.
The rain ended just before the wedding ceremony began outside.
文法句型
end + adverb/preposition
end in + noun
end with + noun
用法筆記
This sense is intransitive, so it never takes a direct object. The subject is the thing that finishes by itself. To express who or what caused the ending, use sense 2.
常見錯誤
2. to cause something to stop happening or no longer exist — for example, ending a
to cause something to stop happening or no longer exist — for example, ending a war, ending a conversation, or ending an agreement
Rodrigo ended his email with a polite thank-you note to the team.
end + object + with + noun
The two countries signed a peace treaty to end the long conflict.
Jessica decided to end her membership at the gym after moving away.
A sudden storm ended the picnic before anyone could eat dessert.
The manager ended the meeting early so staff could go home safely.
- finish
Very similar, but 'finish' tends to imply completing all parts; 'end' can mean stopping at any stage
- stop
Suggests a sudden or forceful halt, not necessarily a planned completion
- conclude
More formal; often used for speeches, meetings, or written documents
- terminate
Formal and often legal — used for contracts, employment, or services
文法句型
end + direct object
用法筆記
This sense always needs a direct object — the thing being stopped. Frequently used in formal contexts (agreements, contracts, relationships). Passive form is common: 'The contract was ended by mutual agreement.'
常見錯誤
end — noun
- endsingular
- endsplural
1. the furthest reachable spot on a physical thing or within an area, measured from
the furthest reachable spot on a physical thing or within an area, measured from its centre or starting point
Roya waited for the bus at the end of the street.
at the end of [street/road/path]
A small wooden cross stood at the far end of the garden.
Yasmin tied a knot in both ends of the rope before climbing.
The sleeping cat curled up at the end of the bed.
We walked to the end of the pier and watched the fishing boats.
文法句型
the end of [noun phrase]
at the end of [noun phrase]
常見錯誤
2. with the tip of one thing placed directly against the tip of another thing of th
with the tip of one thing placed directly against the tip of another thing of the same kind
Heloísa and her classmates placed their desks end to end for a long table.
end to end arrangement
If you put two sofas end to end, they fill the whole living room wall.
Dario arranged the candles end to end along the windowsill.
The rescue team stood end to end, passing heavy sandbags down the line.
文法句型
end to end (adverbial phrase)
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'end to end', which functions as an adverbial. It describes how objects are arranged relative to each other.
常見錯誤
3. the closing section or moment of a time frame, event, or piece of writing, after
the closing section or moment of a time frame, event, or piece of writing, after which nothing else happens
By the end of the film, Yuna had tears streaming down her face.
by the end of [film/story/event]
The school year finishes at the end of June every summer.
at the end of [month/year/period]
Kasia read the end of the chapter twice to make sure she understood it.
The home team scored a goal near the end of the match.
Towards the end of the meeting, Michael asked a final question about the budget.
- close
slightly more formal; often used for events or periods (the close of the day)
- conclusion
more formal; typically used for arguments, stories, or formal events
- finish
refers to the point where something stops, often used for races or competitions
文法句型
at the end of [time period / event / story]
by the end of [time period / event / story]
towards the end of [time period / event / story]
用法筆記
Can be followed by 'of' + noun phrase (the end of the day, the end of the story). 'By the end of…' implies a deadline (something will be finished before that point); 'at the end of…' refers to a specific point in time.
常見錯誤
❌ 'The end of the book was surprising.' can be confused with the physical end of the book object. Use 'the ending of the book was surprising' for the story's conclusion.
4. a tender or respectful way of referring to someone dying, chosen instead of the
a tender or respectful way of referring to someone dying, chosen instead of the more direct word 'death'
Grandfather remained peaceful and calm towards the end of his life.
euphemism for death; towards the end of [possessive] life
The family gathered at the hospital to be with Aunt Rosa at the end.
The old dog's end came quietly in his sleep one winter night.
Talia wrote a final letter to her father before his end.
- birth
the beginning of life, opposite of death
文法句型
towards the end
[possessive] end
用法筆記
Frequently used in gentle or formal contexts about death. Often appears in phrases such as 'towards the end', 'at the end of her life', or 'came to a peaceful end'. Avoid in casual conversation about death unless being deliberately sensitive.
常見錯誤
5. in sports, each of the two equally sized sections of a playing area — teams defe
in sports, each of the two equally sized sections of a playing area — teams defend one section and attack the other
Hyun threw the ball from his own end of the field towards the goal.
own end of the field
After half-time, Harper and her teammates swapped ends of the pitch.
swap ends
The home team attacked the far end in the second half of the match.
Romi kicked the ball towards the opposite end of the court.
- half
more general; 'the home half', 'the attacking half'
文法句型
[possessive/team] end of the [field/pitch/court]
swap ends
用法筆記
Common in team sports that use a rectangular field or court. 'Swap ends' or 'change ends' happens at half-time when teams switch which half they defend.
常見錯誤
6. used to introduce the most important or final point after everything has been th
used to introduce the most important or final point after everything has been thought about or discussed
At the end of the day, what matters is whether you are happy with your choices.
at the end of the day — presenting final conclusion
Romi said that, at the end of the day, family always comes first.
It was a hard choice between jobs, but at the end of the day we chose safety.
At the end of the day, Dario knew he did his best and felt no regret.
- ultimately
more formal; same core meaning of final consideration
- when all is said and done
same register and meaning, but longer and less common in everyday speech
文法句型
at the end of the day (sentence-initial)
用法筆記
Only used in the fixed phrase 'at the end of the day'. Do not confuse with 'in the end', which has a similar but not identical meaning. 'At the end of the day' is more conversational and is used to emphasise a personal value or judgement. The phrase does NOT refer to an actual time of day.
常見錯誤
7. the outcome that occurs following a lengthy process or thorough discussion of va
the outcome that occurs following a lengthy process or thorough discussion of various options
In the end, the committee decided to approve the new park.
sentence-initial, shows outcome after a process
We argued for weeks, but in the end we agreed to share the office.
In the end, it was Dewi's patience that solved the problem.
The team tried three different strategies, and in the end only the simplest one worked.
In the end, the family chose to stay in their hometown rather than move abroad.
- eventually
more neutral, less contrastive than 'in the end'
- ultimately
slightly more formal; emphasises the final outcome
- finally
focuses on the last step in a sequence
文法句型
in the end + clause
用法筆記
Always appears as the fixed phrase 'in the end,' typically at the start of a clause or sentence. Do not confuse with 'at the end,' which refers to a specific physical or temporal point.
常見錯誤
8. used after a time expression (hours, days, weeks) to say that something carries
used after a time expression (hours, days, weeks) to say that something carries on for that whole period without any pause or break
The construction noise continued for hours on end, keeping everyone awake.
time expression + on end for continuous duration
Dewi can read novels for days on end when she finds a good story.
During the heatwave, the air conditioner ran for weeks on end.
Walid practiced the piano for three hours on end before the recital.
- continuously
adverb, not restricted to time-noun structures
- non-stop
more informal; can be used more flexibly
- without a break
explanatory phrase, less idiomatic
文法句型
for + plural time noun + on end
用法筆記
Used only after plural time expressions (hours, days, weeks, months, years). Never used with singular time nouns: ❌ 'for hour on end' → ✅ 'for hours on end.'
常見錯誤
9. the moment when something finishes, stops being active, or no longer exists — fo
the moment when something finishes, stops being active, or no longer exists — for example, the end of a war, a career, or a service
The ceasefire marked the end of three years of fighting.
the end of [something] — stopping point
The company announced the end of its evening delivery service.
The end of the war brought relief to the whole region.
Scientists say we are approaching the end of the fossil fuel era.
Mei's retirement marked the end of a long career in nursing.
- termination
more formal, often used in legal or procedural contexts
- conclusion
suggests a planned or natural finishing point
- close
suggests the final stage of an event or process
- start
the beginning of an activity or period
- beginning
the point at which something starts
- commencement
formal; the start of something
文法句型
the end of [something]
come to an end
put an end to [something]
用法筆記
Often appears in the patterns 'the end of [something]' and 'put an end to [something]' (to actively stop something). Distinguish from sense 3 (the final part or section of a story or period), which focuses on the content of the concluding portion rather than the moment of cessation.
常見錯誤
10. one section of play in sports such as curling, bowls, or archery, during which e
one section of play in sports such as curling, bowls, or archery, during which each competitor or team takes a turn
In the third end, Esteban's team scored two points.
in + ordinal + end — sports round context
Each end in curling ends when all eight stones have been thrown.
The archers shot six arrows per end during the competition.
Nora won the bowls match's first end by placing her bowl near the jack.
文法句型
ordinal + end
per end
用法筆記
Domain-specific: used only in certain sports such as curling, lawn bowls, and archery. Not used in mainstream ball sports like football or basketball, where 'half,' 'quarter,' or 'period' would apply.
常見錯誤
11. the short leftover portion of an object that remains once the greater part has b
the short leftover portion of an object that remains once the greater part has been consumed or worn down — for example, a cigarette end or a candle end
Tunde stubbed out his cigarette end in the ashtray.
cigarette end — leftover after smoking
The tailor saved every cloth end for making patchwork quilts.
cloth end — fabric remnant after cutting
Beatrix picked the pencil end off the floor—too short to write with.
The candle end melted into a pool of wax on the table.
文法句型
[material/object] + end
用法筆記
Common in compound nouns: cigarette end, candle end, cloth end, rope end. Not used for food leftovers: ❌ 'bread end' → use 'crust' or 'heel of the loaf.'
常見錯誤
12. the result or goal that someone hopes to achieve by doing something, especially
the result or goal that someone hopes to achieve by doing something, especially in formal or planned contexts
The company cut costs to achieve its financial end of higher profits.
financial end — goal in a formal context
Samir believes the end justifies the means in business negotiations.
the end justifies the means — fixed idiom
The villagers worked together toward a common end—clean water for every home.
For political ends, the mayor delayed the decision until after the election.
- means
the method used to achieve an end, as in 'the ends and means'
文法句型
to this end
for + adjective + ends
the end justifies the means
用法筆記
More formal than 'aim' or 'goal.' Frequently appears in fixed expressions such as 'to this end' (to achieve this aim) and 'the end justifies the means' (the result is so good that any method used to reach it is acceptable). Distinguish from sense 13 ('to this end'), which is the same fixed phrase used adverbially.
常見錯誤
13. used to describe the course of action that someone follows in order to reach a s
used to describe the course of action that someone follows in order to reach a specific goal that was already stated or is well understood
The committee wanted to reduce costs. To that end, it cut the office supply budget.
fixed phrase: 'To that end' introducing the action taken
Hoa hoped to improve her English. To that end, she joined a class at the local library.
The city wanted more visitors. To this end, it built a museum in the town centre.
Christopher wanted to start a business. To that end, he saved money each month for two years.
- for this purpose
more general; can replace 'to this end' but less formal
- with this aim in mind
more elaborate; used in very formal writing
- toward that goal
American English; slightly less common
文法句型
to this/that end, [clause]
用法筆記
Almost always used in formal or academic writing. The phrase 'to this/that end' appears at the beginning of a sentence or clause and links the action back to a previously stated goal. In everyday conversation, speakers prefer 'so that' or 'in order to'.
常見錯誤
14. a particular part or section of an activity, organization, or project that invol
a particular part or section of an activity, organization, or project that involves a specific function, type of work, or group of people
Adina handles the marketing end of the business, while Gita manages the sales team.
pattern: 'the [department] end of [organization]'
At the technical end, the engineers are fixing software problems before the product launch.
Joaquín handles the financial end of the project, including the budget and expenses.
We need someone with real experience at the creative end of advertising and campaign design.
文法句型
the [adjective] end (of [noun])
somebody's end
15. the part of an arrangement, relationship, or shared task that a particular perso
the part of an arrangement, relationship, or shared task that a particular person or group is obliged to do or be responsible for
Baraka agreed to deliver the materials on time — that was his end of the deal.
pattern: '[possessive] end of [agreement]'
If you do not keep your end of the arrangement, we cannot continue to work together.
The landlord fixed the roof, so the tenant must now do her end and pay the rent.
Joshua promised to cook dinner, and he kept his end of the promise without any fuss.
- part
more common in general use; 'end' implies a shared arrangement
- share
focuses on the portion one contributes
- obligation
more formal; focuses on duty rather than role
文法句型
[possessive] end of [noun]
keep/hold up one's end (of [noun])
用法筆記
Often used in the fixed expression 'keep (or hold up) your end of the bargain/deal/arrangement' to describe fulfilling one's obligations. The possessive always matches the person whose responsibility is being discussed.
常見錯誤
16. one of the two locations or positions involved when people talk on the telephone
one of the two locations or positions involved when people talk on the telephone, send something to each other, or travel between places
Anya could hear children laughing at the other end of the phone line.
collocation: 'at the other end of the line/phone'
The package should arrive by Friday — we have completed all the paperwork at this end.
Kian shouted down the pipe, and his voice echoed at the other end of the tunnel.
Call the helpline, and the person at the other end will ask for your address.
文法句型
the [adjective] end of [noun phrase]
at this/that end
常見錯誤
end — adjective
- endpositive
- endercomparative
- endestsuperlative
1. used before a noun to describe the last stage of a process or series, after whic
used before a noun to describe the last stage of a process or series, after which nothing more comes
The design team expects to deliver the end product by early next year.
collocation: end product
Adina believes that the end result is what truly matters to customers.
collocation: end result
Paul's end goal is to open his own restaurant after five years of training.
The end user of this app rarely sees the complex code behind the screen.
Nala set an end date for each stage of the research project.
- initial
the first stage of a process
- preliminary
earlier, preparatory stage
文法句型
end + noun
用法筆記
This adjective is placed only before a noun (attributive position). It typically appears in set combinations such as end product, end result, end goal, end user, and end date — it is not a general substitute for final or last.
常見錯誤
end — combining form
1. a prefix meaning located or happening within a body, organ, cell, or physical st
a prefix meaning located or happening within a body, organ, cell, or physical structure
Dr. Nakamura used an endoscope to examine the lining of the patient's stomach.
end- + -scope → instrument for viewing inside
Endocrine glands such as the thyroid release hormones directly into the blood.
endocrine: secreting within the body
The endoskeleton of a bird supports its muscles and protects its internal organs.
Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the heart.
- exo-
meaning 'outside' or 'external' — the opposite of endo-
文法句型
end- + [noun root] → noun or adjective
用法筆記
This prefix appears mainly in scientific and medical terms borrowed from Greek. It contrasts with 'exo-' (outside) and 'ecto-' (outer).
常見錯誤
2. a prefix meaning that a process or substance absorbs or takes in heat, energy, o
a prefix meaning that a process or substance absorbs or takes in heat, energy, or other material from its surroundings
An endothermic reaction absorbs heat and makes the container feel cold to the touch.
endothermic: absorbs heat from surroundings
Daichi watched endocytosis as a cell absorbed a nutrient particle under the microscope.
An endergonic reaction needs a continuous supply of energy to keep moving forward.
The lab recorded a drop in temperature during the endothermic part of the experiment.
- exo-
meaning 'releasing' or 'giving off' — the opposite in chemistry and biology contexts
文法句型
end- + [noun root] → noun or adjective
用法筆記
This prefix is common in chemistry (endothermic reactions absorb heat) and biology (endocytosis pulls material into a cell). The opposite prefix 'exo-' means 'releasing' or 'giving off.'