end up

verb

ended up; ending up; ends up
: to reach or come to a place, condition, or situation that was not planned or expected
The book ended up in the trash.
He didn't want to end up like his father.
She ended up a rich woman.
He ended up (living) in a nursing home.
The movie we wanted to see was sold out so we ended up seeing a different one.

Examples of end up in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Now, those extensions could end up on the chopping block, Burak said, as states seek ways to manage Medicaid losses. — Andrew Jones, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026 A lot of thought goes into each episode, but so much of what ends up happening is very guerrilla-style. — Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Aug. 2026 The plant cannot be turned off during periods of high solar power production, so the state ends up cutting back on its solar power or giving it away for free, said Mark Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford. — Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2026 Could 2025 seventh-round Zeek Biggers and fifth-rounder Phillips end up helping the Dolphins more than Grant, Miami’s first-round pick in the last draft run by Chris Grier? — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for end up

Rhymes for end up

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Browse Nearby Words

enduement
end up
endura
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Cite this Entry

“End up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/end%20up. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of end up for Spanish Speakers

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