conclude

verb

con·​clude kən-ˈklüd 

concluded; concluding

transitive verb

1

: to bring to an end especially in a particular way or with a particular action

conclude a meeting

2

a

: to reach as a logically necessary end by reasoning : infer on the basis of evidence

concluded that her argument was sound

b

: to make a decision about : decide

concluded he would wait a little longer

c

: to come to an agreement on : effect

conclude a sale

concluded a peace treaty

3

: to bring about as a result : complete

4

obsolete : to shut up : enclose

intransitive verb

1

: end

The festivities concluded at midnight.

2

a

: to form a final judgment

b

: to reach a decision or agreement

concluder noun

Synonyms

• close
• close out
• complete
• end
• finish
• round (off or out)
• terminate
• wind up
• wrap up

Choose the Right Synonym for conclude

close, end, conclude, finish, complete, terminate mean to bring or come to a stopping point or limit.

close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.

the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

infer, deduce, conclude, judge, gather mean to arrive at a mental conclusion.

infer implies arriving at a conclusion by reasoning from evidence; if the evidence is slight, the term comes close to surmise.

from that remark, I inferred that they knew each other

deduce often adds to infer the special implication of drawing a particular inference from a generalization.

denied we could deduce anything important from human mortality

conclude implies arriving at a necessary inference at the end of a chain of reasoning.

concluded that only the accused could be guilty

judge stresses a weighing of the evidence on which a conclusion is based.

judge people by their actions

gather suggests an intuitive forming of a conclusion from implications.

gathered their desire to be alone without a word

Examples of conclude in a Sentence

The investigation has not yet concluded.

The meeting concluded at noon.

The chairman concluded by wishing us all a happy holiday.

We concluded the meeting on a happy note.

The chairman concluded his speech by wishing us all a happy holiday.

We conclude from our review of the evidence that they are right.

Many studies have concluded that smoking is dangerous.

The speech, many historians concluded, was the most important of his career.

Their effort to conclude an agreement was a success.

Recent Examples on the Web

In September, the District Court of Nuremberg-Fürth dismissed Adidas’ case, ruling that the claims of trademark infringement and unfair competition were unfounded, and concluding that the differences between the two logos were significant enough to prevent consumer confusion. —Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 22 Nov. 2024

The Justice Department in June concluded a 3-year investigation into the Phoenix Police Department. —Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024

In sum, the panel concluded with the sentiment that 2025 will be a year of uncertainty and volatility for the global economy. —London Business School, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

The Camerimage Film Festival concludes on Nov. 23 with an awards ceremony where Blanchett’s jury will unveil the winners of the event’s Golden Frog awards. —Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin concludere to shut up, end, infer, from com- + claudere to shut — more at close entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4

Kids Definition

conclude

verb

con·​clude kən-ˈklüd 

concluded; concluding

1

: to bring or come to an end : finish

conclude a speech

2

: to form an opinion : decide by reasoning

conclude that they are right

3

: to bring about as a result : arrange

conclude an agreement

concluder noun