Standard Lemma guide

endgame

adj · noun · 9 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • ĕndgām
  • /ˈɛnd.ɡeɪm/
  • CMU ARPABET: EH1 N D G EY0 M Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Having become canon by the end of the plot of a work of fiction or speculated to be intended to become such.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable, slang

Topics: lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The final stage of a game of chess, when there are few pieces left.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: board-games, chess, games

Examples

  • Rooks become much more important in the endgame.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The final stage of a game of bridge, when there are few cards left.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: bridge, games

Examples

  • You can't really use squeeze plays until the endgame.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The final stage of any game.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

Examples

  • Being stuck with two V tiles can make for an awkward Scrabble endgame.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

The final stage of an extended process or course of events, especially with the implication of the imminent realization of a masterful strategy or plan.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • What's his endgame, do you think?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

The gameplay available in a massively multiplayer online role-playing game for players who have completed all of the preset challenges.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: video-games

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

The thematic element of an advanced cryptic crossword puzzle, typically solved after completing the grid.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: crosswording

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

the final stages of a chess game after most of the pieces have been removed from the board

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: end game

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: end, last, final stage

9

noun

Meaning 9

the final stages of an extended process of negotiation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the diplomatic endgame

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: end game

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: end, last, final stage

History

Etymology

From end + game.

Across languages

Translations

34 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: վերջնախաղ (verǰnaxaġ) — end stage of a chess game
  • Azerbaijani: endşpil — end stage of a chess game
  • Belarusian: э́ндшпіль (éndšpilʹ) — end stage of a chess game
  • Chinese Mandarin: 殘局 /残局 (cánjú) — end stage of a chess game
  • Chinese Mandarin: 殘棋 /残棋 (cánqí) — end stage of a chess game
  • Czech: koncovka — end stage of a chess game
  • Dutch: eindspel — end stage of a chess game
  • Esperanto: finalo — end stage of a chess game
  • Finnish: loppupeli — end stage of a chess game
  • French: finale — end stage of a chess game
  • German: Endspiel — end stage of a chess game
  • Greek: φινάλε (finále) — end stage of a chess game
  • Hungarian: végjáték — end stage of a chess game
  • Japanese: 終盤 (shūban) — end stage of a chess game
  • Kazakh: ойынсоңы (oiynsoñy) — end stage of a chess game
  • Kazakh: эндшпиль (éndşpil) — end stage of a chess game
  • Korean: 종반 (jongban) — end stage of a chess game
  • Polish: końcówka — end stage of a chess game
  • Portuguese: final — end stage of a chess game
  • Romanian: final — end stage of a chess game
  • Romanian: final de partidă — end stage of a chess game
  • Russian: э́ндшпиль (éndšpilʹ) — end stage of a chess game
  • Spanish: final — end stage of a chess game
  • Spanish: juego final — end stage of a chess game
  • Swedish: slutspel — end stage of a chess game
  • Ukrainian: е́ндшпіль (éndšpilʹ) — end stage of a chess game
  • Vietnamese: cuối ván — end stage of a chess game
  • Vietnamese: tàn cuộc — end stage of a chess game
  • Dutch: eindspel — final stage
  • Finnish: loppuvaihe — final stage
  • German: Schlussphase — final stage
  • Polish: końcówka — final stage
  • Spanish: juego final — final stage
  • Spanish: etapa final — final stage
Real reading context

endgame in complete knowledge articles

Rook and pawn versus rook endgame Literature & books · Accessible · 17 uses World Chess Championship 2018 History & culture · Challenging · 12 uses Women's World Chess Championship 2025 Everyday life · Accessible · 10 uses King and pawn versus king endgame Ideas & learning · Accessible · 9 uses Lucena position Ideas & learning · Accessible · 8 uses World Chess Championship 2006 Ideas & learning · Accessible · 8 uses Réti endgame study Ideas & learning · Accessible · 6 uses Babson task Ideas & learning · Developing · 5 uses