conclude

verb

kən-ˈklüd How to pronounce conclude (audio)
Definition of concludenext
1
as in to end
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point a brief reminder of tonight's game concluded the announcements

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stop
to come to an end the concert concluded late in the evening

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to arrange
to bring about through discussion and compromise concluded an economic agreement among the world's leading industrial nations

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to decide
to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration he concluded that the reprimand could wait until later

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to understand
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information concluded that only the murderer could possibly have known that information

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb conclude differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of conclude are close, complete, end, finish, and terminate. While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

Where would close be a reasonable alternative to conclude?

While the synonyms close and conclude are close in meaning, close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

When is it sensible to use complete instead of conclude?

The meanings of complete and conclude largely overlap; however, complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.

the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

When might end be a better fit than conclude?

The synonyms end and conclude are sometimes interchangeable, but end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

In what contexts can finish take the place of conclude?

The words finish and conclude can be used in similar contexts, but finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

When could terminate be used to replace conclude?

In some situations, the words terminate and conclude are roughly equivalent. However, terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of conclude Schlossberg concluded his video by again mocking Rogan for his height. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025 An investigation led by Chief Justice Earl Warren concluded that Oswald acted alone in shooting Kennedy, but the probe has been widely criticized by academics and historians in the 62 years since the assassination. — Stefan Becket, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2025 After weeks of tense deliberations, the trial concluded on July 1, 2024. — Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 18 Mar. 2025 The central bank is widely expected to hold interest rates steady at 0.5% when the meeting concludes on Wednesday. — Amala Balakrishner, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conclude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conclude
  1. end
  2. stop
  3. arrange
  4. decide
  5. understand
  6. finish
  7. cease
  8. negotiate
Verb
  • The prospect of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine has always raised the possibility of territorial concessions to Russia.
    — Tetiana Kotelnykova, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Two previous deals that sought to end the strike failed to bring back enough guards to declare an end to the labor action.
    — Landon Mion, Fox News, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of end
Verb
  • Training a guide dog in the UK usually takes around two years, during which the dogs learn multiple skills, like avoiding obstacles, stopping at curbs, navigating complex environments, and responding to emergency scenarios.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Here are 3 reasons why leaders – political as well as corporate – should stop talking about themselves and others as players in a game.
    — Pia Lauritzen, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of stop
Verb
  • The institute once arranged for a Purim care package to be airdropped to a Jewish Coast Guard member 700 miles off the coast of Alaska, for example.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Every morning, the monks gathered there, arranging themselves on the long stone benches, to discuss the matters of the day.
    — Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • But New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle took exception to the bill, asserting that prosecutors already consider someone’s history including domestic violence in deciding sentences.
    — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The match was all but decided on the second playoff hole, played on the iconic 17th at TPC Sawgrass.
    — David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of decide
Verb
  • Getting more people to understand who is homeless, Are and Portway agree, is key to getting better results for people.
    — Christie Zizo, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Now, scientists are trying to help water managers better understand the salt risks that crucial water supplies face from land to sea as global temperatures warm.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of understand
Verb
  • For much of that extraordinary season, when Newcastle also finished fourth in the Premier League, Isak and Wilson pushed each other on, but for the final, neither was in prime shape.
    — Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Mercury retrograde is not the best time to start new ventures, and a full moon is more about finishing than starting.
    — Danijela Pilic, Glamour, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of finish
Verb
  • Disney investors on Thursday voted down a proposal that the entertainment giant cease its participation in a prominent LGBTQ rights organization’s equality ratings program.
    — Todd Spangler, Variety, 20 Mar. 2025
  • However, this does not mean that nuclear waste storage has ceased to be an issue.
    — Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of cease
Verb
  • The two players have been negotiating deals with Cincinnati to keep them with the organization for years to come.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Leaders from both countries negotiated the ceasefire proposal announced on Tuesday.
    — Axios, Axios, 15 Mar. 2025
Definition of negotiate

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Cite this Entry

“Conclude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conclude. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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