# ended

/ˈɛndəd/ (US) · /ˈɛndɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ended
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. finished or stopped

verb · CEFR A1

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

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

- The movie ended at ten o'clock, so we walked home in the dark.
- The negotiations ended abruptly when the two parties failed to reach a compromise regarding the environmental regulations.

### 2. having specific ends

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

having a certain number or type of ends.

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

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

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

## Examples

- The movie ended at ten o'clock.
- The long meeting finally ended after everyone agreed on the new budget proposal.
- The conflict ended not with a formal treaty, but with a gradual withdrawal of forces and a mutual agreement to resume diplomatic trade.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.