terminates

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "terminates" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate when a process, event, or state has come to an end or been brought to an end. For example, "When the agreement had expired, the partnership between the two companies officially terminated."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A computational analogue of a strongly normalizing term is a (nondeterministic) program that terminates on every branch of computation, whereas termination on at least branch is akin to weak normalization.

SEP

Jura has just one main road, which terminates some way short of the island's northern tip.

The Guardian - Travel

"I would ask the Australia Council to develop a policy which deals with cases where an applicant for Australia Council funding refuses funding offered by corporate sponsors, or terminates a current funding agreement".

The Guardian

But it terminates miles from the city centre.

The Economist

Euthanasia, where a third party intentionally terminates life, is banned throughout America.

The Economist

In the case of the orb-weaver, however, the male actively terminates himself within minutes of inserting his second palp.

The Economist

The bus terminates shortly after 9am at the railway station, where I restore my energies with a paratha, served on a page ripped from the Sunday Times of India.In the recent Delhi state elections, the opposition party hoped to convert frustration with the BRT into votes.

The Economist

Where traffic flows are out of balance, the carrier where the call originates pays the carrier where it terminates a settlement equal to half the accounting rate.Now both parts of this old regime are breaking down.

The Economist

This prevents the offender from bothering the next household on the call list until the offender terminates the call.

The Economist

One of the aqueduct's southern branches terminates at Castaic Lake on the northern fringes of Los Angeles.Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Aqueduct from Owens Valley subsequently extended 40 miles further north to Mono Lake to tap additional run-off from the Eastern Sierra snowpack normally provides about a quarter of the city's needs.

The Economist

WhatsApp and iMessage offer end-to-end or peer-to-peer encryption, but a secure web interaction still terminates on a server somewhere in a data centre, where the data is decrypted to be acted upon.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "terminates" when you want to convey a sense of finality or completion, particularly in formal or technical contexts. For example, "The contract terminates on December 31st."

Common error

Avoid using "terminates" in casual conversation or informal writing, where simpler alternatives like "ends" or "finishes" might be more appropriate. For example, instead of saying "The meeting terminates at 5 pm", say "The meeting ends at 5 pm".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "terminates" is as a verb, specifically the third-person singular present tense form. It indicates that a subject (thing, event, process) comes to an end or concludes, such as, "The agreement terminates on this date." Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

27%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

16%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "terminates" is a verb signifying the end or conclusion of something, often used in formal and technical contexts. Ludwig AI indicates that the term is grammatically sound and provides abundant examples across diverse fields such as Science, News & Media, and Encyclopedias. While highly useful for conveying precision, it's crucial to consider the context and choose simpler synonyms like "ends" or "finishes" when appropriate in informal settings. Using "terminates" well can add a touch of formality and clarity to your writing, especially when describing agreements, processes, or physical boundaries.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

concludes

This alternative is a direct synonym, often used in formal contexts to denote the end of a process or event.

ends

A more general and informal synonym for "terminates", applicable in a wide range of situations.

ceases

Implies a more abrupt or definitive stopping point than "terminates".

halts

Suggests a sudden or forced stop, often used in the context of movement or progress.

finishes

A common and versatile synonym, implying the completion of a task or process.

comes to an end

This alternative emphasizes the process of ending rather than a specific endpoint.

draws to a close

A more literary or figurative way of saying something is ending.

is brought to a conclusion

This passive construction places emphasis on an external force causing the end.

expires

Specifically refers to the end of a valid period, such as a contract or subscription.

dissolves

Implies the ending of a relationship or agreement by breaking it apart.

FAQs

How is "terminates" typically used in a sentence?

The word "terminates" is often used to describe the end of a process, agreement, or route. For example, "The railway line "terminates" at the coast" or "The contract "terminates" after one year".

What are some synonyms for "terminates"?

Alternatives to "terminates" include "ends", "concludes", "ceases", and "finishes". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "terminates" a formal word?

Yes, "terminates" is generally considered a more formal word than "ends" or "finishes". It's often used in legal, technical, or academic writing.

What is the difference between "terminates" and "ends"?

While both words indicate the cessation of something, "terminates" implies a more definitive and often pre-determined end, whereas "ends" can be more general. For instance, a scheduled event "terminates", but any activity "ends".