was supposed to end

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was supposed to end" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate an expectation or plan that something was intended to conclude at a certain time or in a certain manner. Example: "The meeting was supposed to end by 3 PM, but it ran over time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The war that was supposed to end all wars.

Independent

"It was supposed to end much earlier than it did.

The New York Times - Arts

The Schumann was supposed to end the concert.

The New York Times

The tax break was supposed to end in 2009.

The Washington Post

'They said it was supposed to end in September.

The Guardian

This wasn't the way it was supposed to end.

The Guardian - Sport

It was supposed to end on Labor Day.

The New York Times

Then it was supposed to end in October.

The Guardian

The world was supposed to end then, too.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Whichever way it was supposed to end, it was not supposed to end like this.

The Guardian - Sport

"I want to talk for ages," she decides, long after our interview was supposed to end.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was supposed to end" to clearly communicate an expectation or plan that something should have concluded at a certain point. Ensure the context provides enough information about why the expectation was not met, if applicable.

Common error

Avoid using "was supposed to end" without clarifying whether the intended conclusion actually occurred. If the ending did not happen as planned, make it explicit to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was supposed to end" functions as a modal expression indicating an expectation or plan that something should have concluded. As Ludwig AI shows, this expectation often implies that the intended conclusion did not occur.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was supposed to end" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that something was expected or planned to finish at a certain time or in a particular manner. Ludwig AI confirms that it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media, where it often highlights a divergence between expectation and reality. While versatile, it's important to ensure clarity about whether the intended conclusion actually occurred. Consider using alternatives like "was expected to conclude" or "was intended to finish" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was expected to conclude

Emphasizes the expectation that something would finish.

was intended to finish

Highlights the intention for something to reach its end.

was due to finish

Emphasizes that the end was set by a certain deadline or schedule.

was set to conclude

Focuses on the arrangement or setting of an ending.

was scheduled to terminate

Focuses on a pre-arranged timetable for ending.

was planned to stop

Highlights the planned cessation of something.

was projected to cease

Indicates a forecast or prediction of ending.

was anticipated to halt

Stresses the anticipation of a stop or conclusion.

was designed to expire

Highlights the designed or built-in ending point.

was meant to lapse

Focuses on the intended termination, often by inaction.

FAQs

What does "was supposed to end" mean?

The phrase "was supposed to end" indicates that there was an expectation, plan, or arrangement for something to conclude at a particular time or in a specific way. However, it often implies that this expectation was not fully met.

How to use "was supposed to end" in a sentence?

You can use "was supposed to end" to describe events, agreements, or timeframes that did not conclude as initially planned. For example, "The meeting "was supposed to end" at 5 PM, but it ran late."

What can I say instead of "was supposed to end"?

You can use alternatives like "was expected to conclude", "was intended to finish", or "was scheduled to terminate" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was to end" instead of "was supposed to end"?

While "was to end" can sometimes be used, it often lacks the implication of an unmet expectation that is present in "was supposed to end". The latter more clearly indicates that a plan or expectation was not realized.