English Reference
verb · adjective

ended

v. · adj.
US /ˈɛndəd/ UK /ˈɛndɪd/ end·ed

  1. 01 A1 Beginner

    v.used to say that something has finished or come to a stop.

    v.the past tense or past participle of 'end', indicating the completion or cessation of an action, state, or time period.

    Simple

    The movie ended at ten o'clock, so we walked home in the dark.

    In context

    The negotiations ended abruptly when the two parties failed to reach a compromise regarding the environmental regulations.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical

    adj.having a certain number or type of ends.

    adj.having a specified kind or number of ends; almost exclusively used in compound adjectives.

    Simple

    The teacher asked an open-ended question that had many possible answers.

    In context

    The technician used a double-ended wrench to tighten the bolts on the underside of the vehicle.

    Usage

    Usually appears as the second part of a hyphenated compound adjective.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense is rare for learners; it is mostly found in technical descriptions like 'double-ended' or 'open-ended'.

Usage ended their relationship · ended each day · ended the season

This entry
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Very common
Updated