end

Universal Words noun, verb noun final part 1 the final part of a period of time, an event, an activity or a story: at the end of the week / month / year * We didn't leave until the very end. * They finally get named at the end of the book. * We had to hear about the whole journey from beginning to end. * It's the end of an era. * Our end-of-season sale starts next week. * There'll be a chance to ask questions at the end. furthest part 2 the part of an object or a place that is the furthest away from its centre: Turn right at the end of the road. * His office is the room at the other end of the corridor. * I joined the end of the queue. * Go to the end of the line! * You've got something on the end of your nose. * Tie the ends of the string together. * That's his wife sitting at the far end of the table. * These two products are from opposite ends of the price range. * We've travelled from one end of Mexico to the other. * They live in the end house. seealsoBIGEND, DEADEND, EASTEND, SPLITENDS, TAILEND finish 3 a situation in which sth does not exist any more: the end of all his dreams * The meeting came to an end (= finished). * The war was finally at an end. * The coup brought his corrupt regime to an end. * There's no end in sight to the present crisis. * They have called for an end to violence. * This latest attack could spell the end of the peace process. * Let's put an end to (= stop) these rumours once and for all. * That was by no means the end of the matter. aim 4 an aim or a purpose: They are prepared to use violence in pursuit of their ends. * She is exploiting the current situation for her own ends. * He joined the society for political ends. * With this end in view (= in order to achieve this) they employed 50 new staff. * We are willing to make any concessions necessary to this end (= in order to achieve this). * They are working towards common ends. part of activity 5 [usuallysing.] a part of an activity with which sb is concerned, especially in business: We need somebody to handle the marketing end of the business. * Are there any problems at your end? * I have kept my end of the bargain. of telephone line / journey 6 [usuallysing.] either of two places connected by a telephone call, journey, etc: I answered the phone but there was no one at the other end. * Jean is going to meet me at the other end. of sports field 7 one of the two halves of a sports field: The teams changed ends at half-time. piece left 8 (BrE) a small piece that is left after sth has been used: a cigarette end seealsoFAGEND, LOOSEEND, ODDSANDENDS death 9 [usuallysing.] a person's death. People say 'end' to avoid saying 'death': She came to an untimely end (= died young). * I was with him at the end (= when he died). * (literary) He met his end (= died) at the Battle of Waterloo. IDIOMS at the end of the day (BrE, spoken) 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. a bad / sticky end (BrE) something unpleasant that happens to sb, 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 sth to have almost nothing left of sth: I'm at the end of my patience. * They are at the end of their food supply. be at the end of your tether (BrE) (AmE be at the end of your rope) 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 the end (BrE, spoken) when you say that people or situations are the end, you mean that you are annoyed with them an end in itself a thing that is itself important and not just a part of sth more important the end justifies the means (saying) bad or unfair methods of doing sth are acceptable if the result of that action is good or positive (reach) the end of the line / road (to reach) the point at which sth 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. end of story (spoken) used when you are stating that there is nothing more that can be said or done about sth end to end in a line, with the ends touching: They arranged the tables end to end. get / have your end away (BrE, slang) to have sex go to the ends of the earth to do everything possible, even if it is difficult, in order to get or achieve sth: I'd go to the ends of the earth to see her again. in the end 1 after a long period of time or series of events: He tried various jobs and in the end became an accountant. 2 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. keep your end up (BrE, informal) to continue to be cheerful in a difficult situation 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. no end (spoken) very much: It upset me no end to hear they'd split up. no end of sth (spoken) a lot of sth: We had no end of trouble getting them to agree. not the end of the world (spoken) not the worst thing that could happen to sb: Failing one exam is not the end of the world. on end 1 in an upright position: It'll fit if you stand it on end. 2 for the stated length of time, without stopping: He would disappear for weeks on end. put an end to yourself