ending
ending
Pronunciation
/ˈɛndɪŋ/
Syllable Breakdown
ɛn - as in the "en" sound in "men"
dɪŋ - as in the "ding" sound in "sing"
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: ending
Plural: endings
Verb (present participle of "end"): ending (used in progressive tenses, e.g., "The movie is ending.")
Verb (gerund of "end"): ending (used as a noun, e.g., "The ending of the war brought peace.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
The final part or conclusion of something; the point at which something ceases to exist, operate, or occur.
Synonyms: conclusion, close, finish, termination, finale, cessation, culmination, resolution
Antonyms: beginning, start, opening, commencement, inception, genesis, origin
A suffix or inflectional morpheme added to the end of a word to indicate grammatical function (e.g., tense, number, case).
Synonyms: suffix, inflection, affix, termination (grammatical context)
Antonyms: root, stem, prefix
Verb (Present Participle)
(Of an action or process) in the process of coming to an end; concluding.
Synonyms: finishing, concluding, ceasing, stopping, terminating, winding down, wrapping up
Antonyms: beginning, starting, commencing, initiating, launching, continuing, prolonging
Examples of Use
Books:
"The novel's ambiguous ending left readers debating the fate of the protagonist for years." (Literary criticism, referencing a book with an open conclusion)
"Fans of the fantasy series expressed strong opinions on social media about the controversial ending of the final installment, feeling it didn't do justice to the characters." (Online book review, April 2024)
"In The Great Gatsby, the melancholic ending perfectly encapsulates the dashed American Dream." (Literary analysis, referencing F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel)
Newspapers:
"The city council voted to approve the new zoning laws, effectively ending months of intense public debate." (Local newspaper report, May 2025)
"Analysts predict a soft ending to the economic downturn, with slow but steady growth expected in the coming quarters." (Financial news, June 2025)
"With the school year ending soon, many parents are planning summer activities for their children." (Community news section, June 2025)
Online Publications:
"The developers announced that support for the game would be ending in December, much to the dismay of its loyal player base." (Gaming news website, October 2024)
"Our guide to crafting a compelling story features tips on how to write a satisfying ending that resonates with your audience." (Writing advice blog, April 2025)
"Is the golden age of streaming ending? New data suggests a shift in consumer habits." (Tech and media analysis, March 2025)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"The shocking ending of the latest episode of 'The Crown' sparked widespread discussion on social media." (Television review, November 2023)
"Many viewers felt the abrupt ending of the film left too many plot threads unresolved." (Movie review, August 2024)
"The album features a powerful instrumental track as its ending, leaving listeners with a reflective mood." (Music review, January 2025)
"Gamers are often protective of their favorite titles, sometimes reacting strongly to perceived bad endings." (Online gaming forum, July 2024)
General Public Discourse:
"We're hoping for a happy ending to this long and difficult negotiation." (Comment by a spokesperson during a press conference, February 2025)
"The current climate crisis requires a concerted global effort towards ending reliance on fossil fuels." (Environmental activist's statement, May 2025)
"Everyone's looking forward to the ending of the school term and the start of the holidays." (Casual conversation, June 2025)
10 Quotes Using Ending
"There is no real ending. It's just the place where you stop the story." (Frank Herbert)
"If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story." (Orson Welles)
"So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their ending!" (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit)
"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's ending." (Seneca)
"Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one." (Oscar Wilde)
"This is your life, and it's ending one minute at a time." (Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club)
"New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings." (Lao Tzu)
"It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice. There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia." (Frank Zappa)
"What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly." (Lao Tzu)
"I rewrote the ending to 'Farewell to Arms,' the last page of it, thirty-nine times before I was satisfied." (Ernest Hemingway)
Etymology
The word "ending" comes from the Old English word "endung," which simply meant "an end" or "death." It's essentially built from the verb "to end" and the suffix "-ing."
The first known use of "ending" as a noun, meaning "a coming to an end" or "the final part of something," can be traced back to the early 14th century. So, for a very long time, it has carried the core meaning of a conclusion or the final stage of something. The "Old English" period, where its roots lie, generally refers to the language used before 1150.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Ending
Happy ending: A favorable or desirable conclusion to a story, event, or situation.
A bitter ending: A conclusion that is sad, disappointing, or unpleasant.
No ending in sight: There's no foreseeable conclusion or stop to something.
The ending of an era: The conclusion of a significant period in history or a particular phase of life.
The beginning of the ending: A phrase suggesting that while something isn't over yet, the process of its conclusion has begun.
All good things must come to an ending: A proverb acknowledging that even pleasant experiences eventually cease.
To tie up loose endings: To complete or resolve any remaining unresolved issues or details of a task or project.
A dead ending street: A path or situation that leads nowhere; a cul-de-sac. (This is a play on "dead end street" but emphasizes the finality of the termination point.)
To put an ending to something: To definitively stop or terminate something.
The ending of the line: The absolute limit or last point of something; no further progress or options exist.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of ending from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
