dead endˌdead ˈend noun [countable] 
The negotiations have reached a dead end.3dead-end job a job with low wages and no chance of progress
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Working at the warehouse seemed like a dead end.
- He realized that the job at which he had been aiming all these years seemed to him to be a dead end.
- He thinks they have reached an evolutionary dead end.
- It's a dead end isn't it.
- It felt like some sort of dead end.
- Like the precise astronomical observations of the Maya, these technical achievements proved to be a dead end.
- This was a dead end for me.
Longman Language Activatora situation in which there is no progress
a situation in which no further progress can be made because two groups or organizations disagree with each other about what to do, and cannot think of any way to end the disagreement: reach a stalemate/be at a stalemate: · At that point the strike appeared to have reached a stalemate.· Negotiations with the 200 army rebels are at a stalemate.end in stalemate: · It looks like the long-running dispute could end in stalemate.stalemate between: · The proposal was aimed at ending the stalemate between environmentalist and business groups.stalemate in: · the stalemate in the three-month long pay disputebreak a stalemate (=make it possible for discussions to continue): · an attempt to break a stalemate in the Middle East peace process
a situation in which no further progress can be made because two groups disagree strongly with each other and refuse to change their minds: · In the same year the issue came before Parliament, but there was complete deadlock.deadlock between: · There are hopes that an agreement can be made to break the deadlock between the White House and Congress.deadlock over: · The deadlock over the US budget had turned away some investors.end in deadlock: · Their first trial ended in deadlock when the jury could not reach an agreement.break a deadlock (=to make it possible to agree so that you can progress): · Syria and Israel broke a six-month deadlock in their talks when they sent peace envoys to Maryland.
a situation in which it is impossible to make any further progress in your work or in what you are trying to do: · My mother thought that I should be a model, but I knew that was a dead end.be/feel you are at a dead end: · At 52, Martin felt he was at a dead end professionally.come to/hit/reach etc a dead end (=stop making any progress): · The development of this drug has come to a dead end because of doubts about its safety.
formal a situation in which progress has stopped completely, especially because people cannot agree on what to do next: impasse in: · The continuing impasse in negotiations made military conflict seem likely.impasse between: · an impasse between the US and its European trading partnersimpasse over: · There seemed no way to end the impasse over the Lockerbie affair.reach an impasse/be at an impasse: · It was clear that the Soviet economy was at an impasse.· On July 25, the situation seemed to have reached an impasse.
an action or change that makes a situation worse, so that the progress that has been made is lost: a step backwards for: · Accepting the job would be a step backwards for me.· Several opposition leaders described the programme as a major step backwards for democracy.take a step backwards: · Any sort of stress such as upset in the family may cause a child to take a step backwards in behaviour.
WORD SETSarterial, adjectiveartery, nounasphalt, nounAve., avenue, nounballast, nounbarricade, nounBelisha beacon, nounbeltway, nounbitumen, nounblacktop, nounblind alley, nounblind spot, nounBlvd., bollard, nounbottleneck, nounboulevard, nounbox junction, nounbus lane, nounbus shelter, nounbus stop, nounbypass, nounbypass, verbbyway, nouncamber, nouncarriageway, nounCatseye, nouncauseway, nouncentral reservation, nounchicane, nounchippings, nouncircus, nounclose, nouncloverleaf, nouncobble, verbcobble, nouncobbled, adjectivecobblestone, nouncone, nouncontraflow, nouncorner, nouncorniche, nouncrash barrier, nouncrawler lane, nouncrescent, nouncrossing, nouncrossroads, nouncross street, nouncrosswalk, nouncul-de-sac, nouncurb, noundead end, noundirt road, noundiversion, noundivided highway, noundogleg, nounDr, dual carriageway, nounesplanade, nounexit, nounexpress, adjectiveexpressway, nounfast lane, nounflyover, nounfootbridge, nounfreeway, nounfwy., gradient, noungravelled, adjectivegridlock, noungrit, noungrit, verbgutter, nounhairpin bend, nounhard shoulder, nounheadroom, nounhedgerow, nounhigh road, nounhighway, nounhill, nounhump-backed bridge, nouninterchange, nounintersect, verbintersection, nouninterstate, nounkerb, nounlamp-post, nounlane, nounlay-by, nounlevel crossing, nounmacadam, nounmain road, nounmanhole, nounmedian, nounmeter maid, nounmews, nounmilestone, nounmini-roundabout, nounmotorway, nounnegotiable, adjectiveoff-ramp, nounoff-road, adjectiveone-way, adjectiveon-ramp, nounorbital, adjectiveparade, nounparkway, nounpath, nounpathway, nounpave, verbpavement, nounpedestrian, nounpedestrian, adjectivepedestrian crossing, nounpedestrianize, verbpedestrian precinct, nounpelican crossing, nounpiazza, nounpike, nounPk, Pl., plaza, nounpoint, nounpothole, nounpromenade, nounramp, nounRd., rest area, nounresurface, verbright of way, nounring road, nounroad, nounroadblock, nounroad sign, nounroad tax, nounroadway, nounroadworks, nounroundabout, nounrush hour, nounrut, nounrutted, adjectiveS-bend, nounS-curve, nounservice area, nounservice station, nounshoulder, nounsidewalk, nounsignpost, nounsingle track road, nounsleeping policeman, nounslip road, nounsnow route, nounsoft shoulder, nounspeed bump, nounspeed limit, nounspur, nounSt, stoplight, nounstreet, nounstreetcar, nounstreetlight, nounstrip, nounsubway, nounsuperhighway, nounsuspension bridge, nounswitchback, nountar, nountar, verbtarmac, nountarmac, verbtaxi rank, nounterminus, nounthoroughfare, nounthroughway, nounthruway, nounT-junction, nountoll, nountollbooth, nountoll bridge, nountollgate, nountoll road, nountollway, nountowaway zone, nountraffic, nountraffic calming, nountraffic circle, nountraffic cone, nountraffic island, nountraffic lights, nountraffic warden, nountramlines, nountruck stop, nountrunk road, nounturn, nounturning, nounturn-off, nounturnout, nounturnpike, noununderpass, nounway, nounwayside, nounweighbridge, nounyellow line, nounzebra crossing, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The negotiations have reached a dead end.
1a street with no way out at one end2a situation where no more progress is possiblecome to/reach a dead end The negotiations have reached a dead end. The negotiations have reached a dead end.3dead-end job a job with low wages and no chance of progress