INDEX:
1. the last part of an event or period of time
2. the last part of a book, film, show etc
3. happening at the end of an event, time, book, film etc
4. the part at the end of an object
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ BEGINNING
↑ START
to finish : ↑ FINISH
to finish something : ↑ FINISH
to make something stop happening : ↑ STOP
in the end/finally : ↑ FINALLY
see also
↑ LAST
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1. the last part of an event or period of time
▷ the end /ði ˈend/ [singular noun]
the last part of an event or period of time :
the end of something
▪ The end of the game was really exciting.
at/by/towards the end
▪ He left New York at the end of December.
▪ Towards the end of the interview, I was beginning to feel that I might have got the job.
come to an end
finish
▪ It was a difficult project and I was glad when it came to an end.
there’s an end/no end in sight
use this to say that something is nearly finished or that you do not know when it will finish
▪ The current housing crisis is more serious than ever, and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.
to/until the bitter end
until the time when a very difficult event or situation finally finishes
▪ She remained loyal to her unfaithful husband right to the bitter end.
▪ The company’s board vowed to fight to the bitter end, rather than submit to the takeover.
▷ conclusion /kənˈkluːʒ ə n/ [singular noun]
the end of an event or piece of work, especially one that has several different stages or has continued for a long time :
▪ Introducing the changes has been a long process, and it’s still nowhere near its conclusion.
the conclusion of something
▪ At the conclusion of the trial, the jury returned with a verdict of guilty.
bring something to a conclusion
make something reach an end
▪ The talks are aimed at bringing the dispute to a conclusion.
▷ close /kləʊz/ [singular noun] formal
the end of a period of time or an activity :
the close of something
▪ The beginning of April usually marks the close of the skiing season.
▪ At the close of trading on the stock market, Ciena shares were up to $37.
draw/come to a close
finish
▪ Several hours later, the meeting drew to a close and the board members filed out of the room.
2. the last part of a book, film, show etc
▷ the end /ðiː end/ [singular noun]
the last part of a book, film, show etc :
▪ It was such a terrible movie, half the audience walked out before the end.
the end of
▪ The end of the book was so sad that I almost cried.
at/by/towards etc the end
▪ By the end of the play, the main characters have all either died or gone mad.
the very end
the most final part of something
▪ You don’t find out who the killer is until the very end.
▷ ending /ˈendɪŋ/ [countable noun]
the way a story or film ends :
▪ In the Spanish version of this story, the ending is completely different.
happy/sad ending
an ending in which something good or bad happens
▪ I love those old Hollywood movies with happy endings.
▷ finale /fɪˈnɑːliǁfɪˈnæli/ [countable noun usually singular]
the exciting or impressive last part of a piece of music, show, ceremony etc :
the finale of something
▪ The finale of Beethoven’s ninth symphony is really magnificent.
the grand finale
one that is very impressive
▪ For the grand finale there was a marching band and fireworks.
▷ conclusion /kənˈkluːʒ ə n/ [countable noun] formal
the last part of a book, play, report etc :
the conclusion of something
▪ At the conclusion of the book, the reader is still not certain whether Markham is guilty or not.
come to a conclusion
▪ There was complete silence in the room as the play came to its tragic conclusion.
3. happening at the end of an event, time, book, film etc
▷ at the end /ət ði ˈend/ [adverb]
at the end of an event, period of time, book, film etc :
▪ If you have any questions, can you ask them at the end, please.
at the end of
▪ At the end of the first half, the score was 2-0.
▷ closing /ˈkləʊzɪŋ/ [adjective only before noun]
done or coming at the end of a meeting, film, book, race etc :
▪ In his closing speech, he thanked the organizers of the conference.
▪ In the closing shot of the film, Hoffman walks away from the camera without looking back.
▪ The closing paragraphs were very moving.
the closing stages/minutes etc of something
▪ I turned on the TV just in time to catch the closing minutes of the race.
▷ final /ˈfaɪnl/ [adjective only before noun]
happening at or near the end of an event or process :
▪ The war reached its final stages in July.
▪ The Board is expected to make its final decision on the merger by August 12th.
▷ late /leɪt/ [adjective/adverb]
if something happens in late August, late spring etc, it happens near the end of that time :
▪ Can you come round late morning - at about 11.30?
▪ It was late summer, and the evenings were already getting cooler.
late in August/the evening/1918 etc
▪ We don’t usually expect to have a frost so late in the spring.
▷ latter /ˈlætəʳ/ [adjective only before noun]
the latter part/half of something
the part that comes fairly near the end or after the middle of something :
▪ This point is explained more fully in the latter part of the chapter.
▪ The house became known as Fields Mill during the latter half of the 17th century.
▷ end/finish with /ˈend wɪð, ˈfɪnɪʃ wɪð/ [verb phrase not in passive]
if an event or period of time ends with something, that thing happens at the end of it :
▪ The concert ended with a laser light show.
▪ The coming term finishes with an exhibition in the Arts Centre on December 12th.
4. the part at the end of an object
▷ end /end/ [countable noun]
the part at the end of something long and narrow :
the end of something
▪ She chewed the end of her pencil thoughtfully.
the end of the road/street/passage etc
the furthest part of the road etc
▪ Go to the end of the street and turn left.
at one end
▪ You need a long pole with a hook at one end.
at both ends/at either end
▪ We sat in silence at either end of a long wooden table.
▷ point /pɔɪnt/ [countable noun]
the thin, sharp end of something such as a needle, stick, or sword :
the point of something
▪ Ben carved his name in the tree trunk, using the point of his knife.
▪ the point of a needle
sharp point
▪ It has small white flowers, and leaves that taper to a sharp point.
▷ tip /tɪp/ [countable noun]
the narrow part at the end of something such as a finger, a branch, or a piece of land :
the tip of something
▪ Doctor Gordon felt my neck with the tips of his fingers.
▪ The village is on the southern tip of the island.
▷ nose /nəʊz/ [countable noun]
the rounded part at the front of a vehicle such as a plane :
nose of
▪ The nose of the plane dipped as we came in to land.
something’s nose
▪ Each missile carries 150 kilos of high explosive in its nose.
▷ head /hed/ [countable noun]
the rounded end part of a small object, especially something such as a nail or pin which also has a pointed end :
head of
▪ There was a hole in the pipe, no bigger than the head of a matchstick.
▪ I picked up a hammer and hit the head of the nail as hard as I could.