met their end

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "met their end" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to someone or something dying or coming to an end. Here are some examples of its usage: - The brave soldiers met their end on the battlefield. - The criminal's reign of terror met its end when he was finally caught by the police. - After years of struggling with cancer, she peacefully met her end surrounded by her loved ones. - The once bustling town met its end when the factory shut down, leaving many without jobs. - Despite their best efforts, the team's winning streak finally met its end in the championship game.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

It is how some Conservative leaders have met their end.

The Guardian

That said, a few customers haven't met their end of the bargain over the years.

The New York Times

It was here, between 1961 and 1989, that Schmidt and 98 other escapees met their end.

The Guardian

England's seamers have largely met their end of the bargain in the series.

The Guardian - Sport

There is unlikely to have been a racier account of how the last Romanovs met their end.

Independent

Just a few months ago, many of them would have met their end at a slaughterhouse in neighboring Illinois.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Poor children were paid one nickel per catch, which meant scores of healthy pets also met their ends.

The Guardian

They persisted right up until the end of the Cretaceous period, 65m years ago, when all (non-avian) dinosaurs met their ends.

The Economist

He served more than six different princes, all of whom were known for their bellicose activities and a good number of whom met their ends in violent deaths.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"Ultimately, both Bossi and the hapless Constance met their ends tragically – he by the bullet of an assassin and she by the knife of an irresponsible surgeon".

The Guardian

Those deaths that figured in recorded history were almost invariably violent murders, executions, suicides and yet the most admired figures met their ends with exemplary calm, their last words set down for posterity.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about historical events or tragedies, consider using "met their end" to maintain a neutral and respectful tone, avoiding overly emotional language.

Common error

Avoid using "met their end" interchangeably with phrases like "met their match" or "met their goal", as they have completely different meanings. "Met their end" specifically refers to death or termination.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "met their end" functions as a euphemism for death or termination. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is frequently used to describe the conclusion of someone's life or the cessation of something's existence. Examples show it applied to individuals, groups, and even abstract entities like empires.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

16%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science & Research

15%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "met their end" is a common and grammatically correct idiom used to describe death or termination. According to Ludwig AI, it functions as a neutral way to convey the end of something's existence. It is most frequently found in News & Media, Academia and Wiki contexts. While interchangeable with alternatives like "passed away" or "perished", it maintains a slightly more formal tone. When using this phrase, avoid confusing it with similar sounding expressions that have different meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

came to their end

A slightly more verbose but equally valid alternative.

met their demise

A more formal and slightly archaic way of saying "met their end".

passed away

More euphemistic and gentle, often used to soften the impact of death.

lost their life

A straightforward and common way to say died.

perished

A more formal and often dramatic way to say died, implying a sudden or violent death.

succumbed

Suggests dying from an illness or injury after a period of struggle.

breathed their last

A poetic and somewhat dramatic way to describe dying.

reached the end of their life

A more descriptive and less direct way of saying died.

ceased to exist

A very formal and detached way of indicating death or termination.

were no more

An elegiac and somewhat literary way to express death or extinction.

FAQs

What does "met their end" mean?

The phrase "met their end" means that someone or something has died or come to an end. It's a euphemistic way of saying "died" or "terminated".

Is "met their end" a formal or informal expression?

The phrase "met their end" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's often favored in more serious or somber settings. Alternatives such as "passed away" are more euphemistic.

What are some alternatives to "met their end"?

Some alternatives to "met their end" include "passed away", "perished", "succumbed", or "met their demise" depending on the specific context and tone you want to convey.

How can I use "met their end" in a sentence?

You can use "met their end" in a sentence to describe how someone or something died or ceased to exist. For example: "The explorers tragically met their end during the expedition" or "The empire met its end after years of decline".