terminate

[tur-muh-neyt]

verb (used with object)

terminated, terminating 

1. to bring to an end; put an end to.

   to terminate a contract.

   Synonyms: complete, close, conclude, finish, end

2. to occur at or form the conclusion of.

   The countess's soliloquy terminates the play.

   Synonyms: complete, close, conclude, finish, end

3. to bound or limit spatially; form or be situated at the extremity of.

4. to dismiss from a job; fire.

   to terminate employees during a recession.

verb (used without object)

terminated, terminating 

1. to end, conclude, or cease.

2. (of a train, bus, or other public conveyance) to end a scheduled run at a certain place.

   This train terminates in New York.

3. to come to an end (often followed by at, in, orwith ).

4. to issue or result (usually followed byin ).

terminate

/ ˈtɜːmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. to form, be, or put an end (to); conclude

   to terminate a pregnancy

   their relationship terminated amicably

2. (tr) to connect (suitable circuitry) to the end of an electrical transmission line to absorb the energy and avoid reflections

3. (intr) maths (of a decimal expansion) to have only a finite number of digits

4. slang,  (tr) to kill (someone)

Other Word Forms

• terminative adjective
• terminatory adjective
• terminatively adverb
• nonterminative adjective
• nonterminatively adverb
• self-terminating adjective
• self-terminative adjective
• unterminated adjective
• unterminating adjective
• unterminative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of terminate¹

1580–90; verbal use of late Middle English terminate (adjective) “limited,” from Latin terminātus, past participle of termināre. See term, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of terminate¹

C16: from Latin terminātus limited, from termināre to set boundaries, from terminus end

Example Sentences

In his reporting, Torre noted that Leonard’s contract with Aspiration included an unusual clause that said the company could terminate the endorsement agreement if Leonard was no longer a member of the Clippers.

From Los Angeles Times

Services coming into Newtownards will terminate at Frederick Street until further notice.

From BBC

A spokesperson for Sacramento-based health system Sutter Health said that, although the original poster was not an employee at the time the video was posted, others who appeared in it had been terminated.

From Los Angeles Times

The illegal streaming giant was terminated in Egypt after a sting operation, according to the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment, one of the country’s largest antipiracy coalitions.

From Los Angeles Times

The Department of Veterans Affairs previously moved to terminate protections for more than 400,000 of its workers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abolish 
• abort 
• adjourn 
• annul 
• cancel 
• cease 
• complete 
• conclude 
• cut off 
• determine 
• discharge 
• discontinue 
• dismiss 
• dissolve 
• eliminate 
• expire 
• halt 
• put an end to 
• recess 
• restrict