ended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ended" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate the completion or conclusion of an action or event. Example: "The meeting ended abruptly, leaving everyone confused about the next steps."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's possible, in fact, that the crisis, instead of eroding the reputational advantages of the big banks, ended up bolstering them.

The Economist

Despite the president's deliberate attempt to talk down the markets and the media's dramatic warnings of economic Armageddon posed by a mere 17% of the government remaining temporarily idle, the S&P 500 closed at a record high the day after the shutdown ended.

The Guardian - Opinion

The sister of Troy Davis, the man whose execution a year ago amid substantial evidence that he was innocent sparked protests across the US and the world, has vowed to keep on fighting until the death penalty is ended "one state at a time".

The Guardian

Lennon had guided Wanderers to their first away victory of the season at Birmingham on Saturday while Charlton's unbeaten record was ended by Bournemouth.

The Guardian - Sport

While many former Tories ended their flirtation with Ukip and went back home, ex-Labour Ukip defectors stayed with their new party.

The Guardian - Opinion

I basically ended up looking at life through plate glass window.

The Guardian - Sport

He ended the testimony saying the family, especially his father, had not been about the loan.

The Guardian

Back in Yenagoa, crowds cheered as Jonathan ended his rally.

The Guardian

Diagnosing what has gone wrong in the past few years and how we've ended up on the brink of another crisis is the easy bit.

The Guardian - Business

There have been regular incidents involving Serbian clubs in European competition and in December 2012 England's under-21 match ended in chaos with players being attacked on the pitch amid accusations of racism.

The Guardian - Sport

She gave few details about how she ended up leaving Mexico with the girl, although she said she knows many would not look kindly on her actions.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ended" to clearly indicate the termination of an event, process, or activity. Ensure the context provides sufficient clarity regarding what has concluded.

Common error

Avoid using "ended" without clearly specifying what has ended. For example, instead of saying "The discussion ended", specify "The discussion ended abruptly" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The word "ended" primarily functions as the past tense and past participle of the verb 'end'. It is used to indicate that something has reached its conclusion or termination, as exemplified in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Sport

24%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ended" is the past tense of the verb 'end', denoting the termination of something. Ludwig AI highlights that it is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, especially in News & Media and sports reporting. While versatile, it's important to provide sufficient context when using "ended" to ensure clarity. Alternatives like ""concluded"" or ""finished"" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

concluded

Implies a more formal or official completion.

finished

A common and versatile synonym for reaching the end.

terminated

Suggests a more abrupt or forceful ending.

completed

Focuses on the achievement of finishing something.

ceased

Implies a gradual or permanent stopping.

halted

Suggests a sudden or imposed stop.

wrapped up

An informal way to describe the finishing of something.

brought to a close

Emphasizes the act of formally ending something.

drew to a conclusion

Suggests a gradual process of ending.

came to an end

Focuses on the arrival at the final state.

FAQs

How can I use "ended" in a sentence?

You can use "ended" to indicate the completion of an event or process. For example, "The meeting "ended" on time" or "The project "ended" successfully".

What are some alternatives to the word "ended"?

Alternatives to "ended" include "concluded", "finished", and "terminated". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired formality.

Is it correct to say "the game was ended"?

While grammatically understandable, it's more common and natural to say "the game "ended"". The passive voice can sometimes sound awkward in this context.

What is the difference between "ended" and "finished"?

"Ended" and "finished" are often interchangeable. However, ""ended"" might imply a more formal or official conclusion, while ""finished"" can be more general. For example, a war "ends", but you might say you've "finished" your lunch.