End vs. Ending: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 18, 2023
"End refers to the final point of something's duration; Ending pertains to the way a narrative concludes or the final part of a piece."
Key Differences
"End" denotes the final point or part of something, a terminus, emphasizing the cessation of an action, situation, or state of being. On the other hand, "Ending" specifically references the conclusion or final part of a story, event, or sequence, focusing on the manner in which the conclusion unfolds or is styled.
In another sense, "End" can suggest a purpose, aim, or desired result, highlighting what one seeks to achieve or the reason behind an action. Contrarily, "Ending" doesn't imply intention but rather the culmination of events, often used in a narrative context to denote the final segment or resolution of a plot.
"End" also carries existential connotations, as it can refer to the ultimate state of affairs, or the cessation of existence or operation. "Ending," however, is less dramatic, typically pertaining to the final segment of something like a book, movie, or event, indicating closure rather than cessation.
In usage, "End" can be more abrupt, signifying a stop or finish, often without detailing the circumstances surrounding it. "Ending," conversely, usually provides more context, suggesting a wrap-up or denouement that offers resolution or closure to the preceding narrative or event.
While "End" is often used in a broader sense, applicable to various situations, times, or states, "Ending" is primarily reserved for contexts where the final segment or conclusion is being discussed, especially in narratives, signaling how the storylines are tied up or resolved.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Termination point
Conclusion of a narrative
Connotation
Cessation, purpose
Closure, resolution
Usage
Broad, versatile
Context-specific
Grammatical Form
Noun, verb
Gerund, noun
Contextual Implication
Finality, cessation
Narrative closure
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End and Ending Definitions
End
End: The final part of something, especially a period of time, an activity, or a story.
He decided to leave at the end of the lecture.
Ending
Ending: The cessation of an effect or phenomenon.
With the ending of the music, the crowd fell silent.
End
Either extremity of something that has length
The end of the pier.
Ending
Ending: The final part of a story, movie, or event.
The ending of the film was both surprising and satisfying.
End
The outside or extreme edge or physical limit; a boundary
The end of town.
Ending
Ending: A conclusion that brings closure or resolution.
After a long negotiation, both parties were happy with the ending.
End
The point in time when an action, event, or phenomenon ceases or is completed; the conclusion
The end of the day.
Ending
Ending: The way in which something concludes or is concluded.
The ending of the ceremony was quite emotional.
End
A result; an outcome.
Ending
Ending: The last part of a word, often indicating its tense, mood, or grammatical gender.
In 'walking,' '-ing' is the ending.
End
Something toward which one strives; a goal.
Ending
A conclusion or termination.
End
The termination of life or existence; death
“A man awaits his end / Dreading and hoping all” (William Butler Yeats).
Ending
A concluding part; a finale
A happy ending.
End
The ultimate extent; the very limit
The end of one's patience.
Ending
(Grammar) The final morpheme added to a word base to make an inflectional form, such as -ed in walked.
End
(Slang) The very best; the ultimate
This pizza's the end.
Ending
A termination or conclusion.
End
A remainder; a remnant.
Ending
The last part of something.
End
A share of a responsibility or obligation
Your end of the bargain.
Ending
(grammar) The last morpheme of a word, added to some base to make an inflected form (such as -s in "dogs").
End
A particular area of responsibility
In charge of the business end of the campaign.
Ending
Present participle of end
End
A warp end.
Ending
Termination; concluding part; result; conclusion; destruction; death.
End
(Football) Either of the players in the outermost position on the line of scrimmage. Offensive ends are eligible to catch passes.
Ending
The final syllable or letter of a word; the part joined to the stem. See 3d Case, 5.
End
To bring to a conclusion
Let's end this discussion.
Ending
The end of a word (a suffix or inflectional ending or final morpheme);
I don't like words that have -ism as an ending
End
To form the last or concluding part of
The song that ended the performance.
Ending
The act of ending something;
The termination of the agreement
End
To destroy
Ended our hopes.
Ending
The point in time at which something ends;
The end of the year
The ending of warranty period
End
To come to a finish; cease
The rain ended.
Ending
Event whose occurrence ends something;
His death marked the ending of an era
When these final episodes are broadcast it will be the finish of the show
End
To arrive at a place, situation, or condition as a result of a course of action. Often used with up
He ended up as an adviser to the president. The painting ended up being sold for a million dollars.
Ending
The last section of a communication;
In conclusion I want to say...
End
To die.
End
The terminal point of something in space or time.
At the end of the road, turn left.
At the end of the story, the main characters fall in love.
End
(by extension) The cessation of an effort, activity, state, or motion.
Is there no end to this madness?
End
(by extension) Death.
He met a terrible end in the jungle.
I hope the end comes quickly.
End
The most extreme point of an object, especially one that is longer than it is wide.
Hold the string at both ends.
My father always sat at the end of the table nearest the kitchen.
End
Result.
End
A purpose, goal, or aim.
For what end should I toil?
The end of our club is to advance conversation and friendship.
End
(cricket) One of the two parts of the ground used as a descriptive name for half of the ground.
The Pavillion End
End
(American football) The position at the end of either the offensive or defensive line, a tight end, a split end, a defensive end.
End
(curling) A period of play in which each team throws eight rocks, two per player, in alternating fashion.
End
(mathematics) An ideal point of a graph or other complex. See End (graph theory)
End
That which is left; a remnant; a fragment; a scrap.
Odds and ends
End
One of the yarns of the worsted warp in a Brussels carpet.
End
Money.
Don't give them your ends. You jack that shit!
End
To come to an end
Is this movie never going to end?
The lesson will end when the bell rings.
End
(transitive) To finish, terminate.
The referee blew the whistle to end the game.
End
The extreme or last point or part of any material thing considered lengthwise (the extremity of breadth being side); hence, extremity, in general; the concluding part; termination; close; limit; as, the end of a field, line, pole, road; the end of a year, of a discourse; put an end to pain; - opposed to beginning, when used of anything having a first part.
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.
End
Point beyond which no procession can be made; conclusion; issue; result, whether successful or otherwise; conclusive event; consequence.
My guilt be on my head, and there an end.
O that a man might knowThe end of this day's business ere it come!
End
Termination of being; death; destruction; extermination; also, cause of death or destruction.
Unblamed through life, lamented in thy end.
Confound your hidden falsehood, and awardEither of you to be the other's end.
I shall see an end of him.
End
The object aimed at in any effort considered as the close and effect of exertion; ppurpose; intention; aim; as, to labor for private or public ends.
Losing her, the end of living lose.
When every man is his own end, all things will come to a bad end.
End
That which is left; a remnant; a fragment; a scrap; as, odds and ends.
I clothe my naked villainyWith old odd ends stolen out of holy writ,And seem a saint, when most I play the devil.
End
One of the yarns of the worsted warp in a Brussels carpet.
End
To bring to an end or conclusion; to finish; to close; to terminate; as, to end a speech.
On the seventh day God ended his work.
End
To form or be at the end of; as, the letter k ends the word back.
End
To destroy; to put to death.
End
To come to the ultimate point; to be finished; to come to a close; to cease; to terminate; as, a voyage ends; life ends; winter ends.
End
Either extremity of something that has length;
The end of the pier
She knotted the end of the thread
They rode to the end of the line
End
The point in time at which something ends;
The end of the year
The ending of warranty period
The middle of the war
Rain during the middle of April
End
The concluding parts of an event or occurrence;
The end was exciting
I had to miss the last of the movie
End
The state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it;
The ends justify the means
End
A final part or section;
We have given it at the end of the section since it involves the calculus
Start at the beginning and go on until you come to the end
A whole is that which has beginning, middle, and end
End
A final state;
He came to a bad end
The so-called glorious experiment came to an inglorious end
End
The surface at either extremity of a three-dimensional object;
One end of the box was marked `This side up'
End
(football) the person who plays at one end of the line of scrimmage;
The end managed to hold onto the pass
End
One of two places from which people are communicating to each other;
The phone rang at the other end
Both ends wrote at the same time
End
A boundary marking the extremities of something;
The end of town
End
The part you are expected to play;
He held up his end
End
The last section of a communication;
In conclusion I want to say...
End
A piece of cloth that is left over after the rest has been used or sold
End
A position on the line of scrimmage;
No one wanted to play end
End
Have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical;
The bronchioles terminate in a capillary bed
Your rights stop where you infringe upon the rights of other
My property ends by the bushes
The symphony ends in a pianissimo
End
Bring to an end or halt;
She ended their friendship when she found out that he had once been convicted of a crime
The attack on Poland terminated the relatively peaceful period after WWI
The U.S. started a war in the Middle East
The Iraqis began hostilities
Begin a new chapter in your life
End
Be the end of; be the last or concluding part of;
This sad scene ended the movie
End
Put an end to;
The terrible news ended our hopes that he had survived
End
End: The furthest or most extreme part or point of something.
She sat at the end of the table.
End
End: A goal, result, or outcome that one seeks to achieve.
We hope the end of this endeavor is successful.
End
End: The cessation of life or existence.
The dinosaurs met their end millions of years ago.
End
End: A point beyond which no further progress can be made.
We've reached the end of our research and can conclude now.
FAQs
Is "Ending" always related to stories?
Mostly, but it can also refer to the conclusion of events or situations that unfold over time.
Is there a positive connotation to "End"?
It can be positive if it refers to achieving a goal or the cessation of something negative.
Can "End" and "Ending" be used interchangeably?
Not always. "End" refers to the final point, while "Ending" often refers to the conclusion of a narrative.
Can "Ending" be unexpected?
Yes, an "Ending" can be unexpected, especially in narratives with a twist or surprise.
Can "End" also refer to a physical location?
Yes, like the end of a road or the last car of a train.
Does an "Ending" resolve all elements of a story?
Ideally, but some stories intentionally leave elements open for interpretation.
Can "End" signify purpose?
Yes, as in the phrase "means to an end," it signifies an objective or purpose.
Can an "Ending" be controversial?
Certainly, especially if it defies expectations or leaves key questions unanswered.
Are cliffhanger endings effective?
They can be, as they often leave the audience eager for more.
Does "End" imply a sudden stop?
It can, but not necessarily. "End" generally denotes the final point, regardless of abruptness.
Does "End" always imply completion?
Generally, though something can end prematurely or without reaching fruition.
Can "End" have a spiritual connotation?
It can, often referring to life's ultimate conclusion or a state of transcendence.
Is "Ending" used in non-narrative contexts?
Less commonly, but it can refer to the conclusion of events or processes.
What's "the light at the end of the tunnel"?
A saying that symbolizes hope or a positive outcome following difficulties.
Do all stories need a clear "Ending"?
Not necessarily; some stories are intentionally ambiguous to provoke thought or interpretation.
What makes a "happy ending"?
A conclusion that resolves the plot positively, often with joy or contentment for characters.
How important is an "Ending" in storytelling?
Crucial, as it helps bring resolution and can significantly impact the audience's experience.
What's the impact of an "Ending" on audience satisfaction?
A strong ending can leave the audience feeling satisfied, while a weak one might diminish the overall experience.
What does "no end in sight" mean?
It suggests a situation with an unclear or undefined conclusion.
What does "End" mean in a historical context?
It could refer to the conclusion of an era, period, or significant event.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
