terminate
/ˈtɜːmɪneɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtɜːrmɪneɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt/ (ame, mw)
terminate — verb
- terminatepresent simple I / you / we / they
- terminateshe / she / it
- terminatedpast simple
- terminating-ing form
1. to make a process, agreement, or activity stop, or to stop happening — for examp
to make a process, agreement, or activity stop, or to stop happening — for example, ending a contract, a phone call, a service, or a journey
The airline terminated the flight route to Osaka after demand dropped sharply.
transitive: terminate + [service/route]
Rohan's contract with the publishing house will terminate at the end of next month.
intransitive: [agreement] + will terminate
Indra terminated the phone call when she realised she had dialled the wrong number.
The landlord terminated the lease agreement because the tenant had broken several rules.
Tariq's internet service was terminated after he had not paid the bill in three months.
文法句型
terminate + [noun phrase]
terminate at/in [place/time]
be terminated
用法筆記
Frequently used in formal contexts such as legal documents, business contracts, and official notices. In everyday conversation, simpler verbs like 'end,' 'stop,' or 'cancel' are more common.
常見錯誤
2. to officially dismiss someone from their job, typically because their performanc
to officially dismiss someone from their job, typically because their performance is not adequate or because the employer no longer needs them
The factory terminated fifteen workers after receiving fewer orders from overseas.
transitive: terminate + [number] + workers
Nellie was terminated from her position as head nurse after the medication error.
passive: be terminated from [position]
Amira's supervisor terminated her employment because of repeated late arrivals.
The manager terminated the temporary staff when the busy season came to an end.
Vinícius was terminated after the company discovered he had lied about his qualifications.
文法句型
terminate + [employee/person]
be terminated from [position]
用法筆記
A formal or euphemistic term for 'fire' or 'sack.' Common in corporate HR language and legal employment documents. The passive form ('was terminated') is especially frequent because it avoids directly naming who made the decision.
常見錯誤
3. to intentionally end a pregnancy through a medical procedure, usually during the
to intentionally end a pregnancy through a medical procedure, usually during the early stages before the foetus can survive outside the womb
Sana decided to terminate the pregnancy after discussing the options with her doctor.
collocation: terminate + the pregnancy
The clinic offers free counselling for women who are considering terminating a pregnancy.
Greta explained that terminating a pregnancy is safe when done in the early weeks.
The hospital allows patients to terminate a pregnancy within the first trimester under national law.
- abort
more direct and common; also refers to the medical procedure itself
- end a pregnancy
less formal circumlocution, used when a softer tone is desired
文法句型
terminate + pregnancy
terminate + a/the pregnancy
用法筆記
A formal medical term. In everyday conversation, 'have an abortion' is more common. This sense is often used in healthcare contexts, legal discussions about abortion rights, and professional medical writing.
常見錯誤
terminate — adjective
- terminatepositive
- more terminatecomparative
- most terminatesuperlative
1. having a definite end point; not permanent or infinite — describing something th
having a definite end point; not permanent or infinite — describing something that will finish after a certain period or condition
The lease agreement is terminate, meaning it expires after exactly five years.
predicative: [agreement] + is terminate
Zola inherited a terminate annuity that stops paying out when she turns sixty.
attributive: terminate + [noun] as in 'terminate annuity'
This is a terminate contract that cannot be renewed without signing a new one.
文法句型
terminate + [noun] (attributive only)
用法筆記
Extremely rare in modern English; found mostly in formal legal language and philosophical writing. The more common adjective for 'not permanent' is 'finite.' For agreements with a fixed lifespan, 'fixed-term' is used instead.