1. Either extremity of something that has length: the end of the pier.
2. The outside or extreme edge or physical limit; a boundary: the end of town.
3. The point in time when an action, an event, or a phenomenon ceases or is completed; the conclusion: the end of the day.
4. A result; an outcome.
5. Something toward which one strives; a goal. See synonyms at intention.
6. The termination of life or existence; death: "A man awaits his end/Dreading and hoping all" (William Butler Yeats).
7. The ultimate extent; the very limit: the end of one's patience.
8. Slang. The very best; the ultimate: This pizza's the end.
9. A remainder; a remnant.
10. 1. A share of a responsibility or obligation: your end of the bargain.
    2. A particular area of responsibility: in charge of the business end of the campaign.
11. Football.
    1. Either of the players in the outermost position on the line of scrimmage.
    2. The position played by such a player.

1. To bring to a conclusion.
2. To form the last or concluding part of: the song that ended the performance.
3. To destroy: ended our hopes.

1. To come to a finish; cease. See synonyms at complete.
2. To arrive at a place, situation, or condition as a result of a course of action. Often used with up: He ended up as an advisor to the president. The painting ended up being sold for a million dollars.
3. To die.

in the end

1. Eventually; ultimately: All will turn out well in the end.

1. A great deal: She had no end of stories to tell.

1. Having one end down; upright: books placed on end on the shelf.
2. Without stopping: drove for hours on end.

[Middle English ende, from Old English.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.