Phrasal verb
end up
Definition
phrasal verb. to reach a place or situation that you did not plan or expect.
phrasal verb. to arrive at a final state, condition, or location, often as the result of a series of unplanned events or decisions.
Examples
“We got lost and end up at a small village.”
“If you don't start saving money now, you might end up with nothing when you retire.”
“Despite his initial ambition to become a professional musician, he ended up managing a successful software company in the suburbs.”
Examples
simple
“We got lost and end up at a small village.”
contextual
“If you don't start saving money now, you might end up with nothing when you retire.”
complex
“Despite his initial ambition to become a professional musician, he ended up managing a successful software company in the suburbs.”
Usage
often followed by a prepositional phrase, an adjective, or a verb ending in -ing.
Teaching tip
highlight that 'end up' focuses on the final result of a journey or process, often implying the outcome was accidental or surprising.
Pitfall
He ended up to live in Spain.
He ended up living in Spain.
when followed by another verb, 'end up' requires the -ing form, not the infinitive.
Phrasal verb
Particles
up
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
end + up + [complement]