Phrase guide

end up

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To bring to a conclusion.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The band usually ends up their concerts with their biggest hit song.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To come to a final place, condition, or situation, sometimes unplanned or unexpected; to turn out.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: copulative

Examples

  • They ended up angry at each other.
  • He ended up as an insurance agent.
  • I was going for a stroll, and ended up lost.
  • She gave her all, and ended up winning the contest.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To lift or tilt, so as to set on end.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • to end up a hogshead

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

finally be or do something

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He ended up marrying his high school sweetheart
  • he wound up being unemployed and living at home again

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: finish up, land up, fetch up, wind up, finish

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: act, move

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

59 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: acabar-se — turn out
  • French: se terminer — turn out
  • French: se finir — turn out
  • German: sich herausstellen — turn out
  • Greek: γίνομαι (gínomai) — turn out
  • Greek: καταντάω (katantáo) — turn out
  • Hungarian: végződik — turn out
  • Hungarian: véget ér — turn out
  • Hungarian: végez — turn out
  • Italian: andare a finire — turn out
  • Italian: finire — turn out
  • Norwegian: havne — turn out
  • Polish: kończyć się — turn out
  • Polish: skończyć się — turn out
  • Portuguese: terminar — turn out
  • Romanian: termina — turn out
  • Russian: зака́нчиваться (zakánčivatʹsja) — turn out
  • Russian: зако́нчиться (zakónčitʹsja) — turn out
  • Spanish: terminar — turn out
  • Spanish: ir a parar — turn out
  • Spanish: quedar — turn out
  • Spanish: acabar — turn out
  • Ukrainian: закі́нчуватися (zakínčuvatysja) — turn out
  • Ukrainian: закі́нчитися (zakínčytysja) — turn out
  • Catalan: acabar — arrive at a destination
  • Chinese Mandarin: 到达 (dàodá) — arrive at a destination
  • Czech: skončit — arrive at a destination
  • Dutch: belanden — arrive at a destination
  • Dutch: terechtkomen — arrive at a destination
  • Finnish: päätyä — arrive at a destination
  • French: se retrouver — arrive at a destination
  • French: finir — arrive at a destination
  • German: am Ende irgendwo / etwas sein — arrive at a destination
  • German: landen — arrive at a destination
  • Hungarian: kiköt — arrive at a destination
  • Italian: finire — arrive at a destination
  • Italian: andare a finire — arrive at a destination
  • Italian: ritrovarsi — arrive at a destination
  • Polish: znaleźć się — arrive at a destination
  • Portuguese: acabar — arrive at a destination
  • Romanian: sfârși — arrive at a destination
  • Russian: оказа́ться (okazátʹsja) — arrive at a destination
  • Russian: ока́зываться (okázyvatʹsja) — arrive at a destination
  • Swedish: hamna — arrive at a destination
  • Ukrainian: опини́тися (opynýtysja) — arrive at a destination
  • Ukrainian: опиня́тися (opynjátysja) — arrive at a destination
  • Finnish: tehdä lopulta — eventually do
  • French: finir par — eventually do
  • German: damit enden — eventually do
  • Hungarian: végül — eventually do
  • Italian: finire per — eventually do
  • Italian: finire col — eventually do
  • Polish: kończyć — eventually do
  • Polish: skończyć — eventually do
  • Portuguese: acabar — eventually do
  • Spanish: terminar — eventually do
  • Spanish: acabar — eventually do
  • Ukrainian: зре́штою (zréštoju) — eventually do
  • Ukrainian: вре́шті решт (vréšti rešt) — eventually do