end / end/ • n. 1. a final part of something, esp. a period of time, an activity, or a story: the end of the year. ∎  a termination of a state or situation: the party called for an end to violence. ∎  used to emphasize that something, typically a subject of discussion, is considered finished: you will go to church and that's the end of it. ∎  death or ruin: if she’s caught stealing again, it will be the end of her career. ∎ archaic (in biblical use) an ultimate state or condition: the end of that man is peace.2. the furthest or most extreme part or point of something: a length of wire with a hook at the end [as adj.] the end house. ∎  a specified extreme point on a scale: homebuyers at the lower end of the market. ∎  the part or share of an activity with which someone is concerned: you're going to honor your end of the deal.3. a goal or result that one seeks to achieve: each would use the other to further his own ends.4. Football an offensive or defensive lineman positioned nearest to the sideline.• v. come or bring to a final point; finish: [intr.] when the war ended, policy changed [tr.] she wanted to end the relationship. ∎  [intr.] perform a final act: the man ended by attacking a police officer. ∎  [intr.] (end in) have as its final part, point, or result: one in three marriages is now likely to end in divorce. ∎  [intr.] (end up) eventually reach or come to a specified place, state, or course of action: I ended up in Connecticut.PHRASES: at the end of the day inf. when everything is taken into consideration: at the end of the day, I'm responsible for what happens in the school.be at (or have come to) an end be finished or completed. ∎  (of a supply of something) become exhausted: our patience has come to an end.be at the end of be close to having no more of (something): he was at the end of his ability to cope.come to (or meet) a bad end be led by one's own actions to ruin or an unpleasant death.end it all commit suicide.the end of the road (or line) the point beyond which progress or survival cannot continue: if the lawsuit is not dropped it could be the end of the road for the publisher.the end of one's rope (or tether) having no patience or energy left to cope with something: after enduring four years of mice in the house, we were at the end of our rope.the end of the world ∎ inf. a complete disaster: it's not the end of the world if you're not great at sports.end to end in a row with the furthest point of one object touching that of another object.in the end eventually or on reflection: in the end, I saw that she was right.keep (or hold) one's end up inf. perform well in a difficult or competitive situation.make (both) ends meet earn enough money to live without getting into debt.never (or not) hear the end of be continually reminded of (an unpleasant topic or cause of annoyance).no end inf. to a great extent; very much: this cheered me up no end.no end of inf. a vast number or amount of (something): we shared no end of good times.on end1. continuing without stopping for a specified period of time: sometimes they'll be gone for days on end.2. in an upright position: he brushed his hair, leaving a tuft standing on end.