bookend
1 of 2noun
book·end ˈbu̇k-ˌend 
1
: a support placed at the end of a row of books
marble bookends
2
: one of two usually similar things that begin and end something
The second season started with stateside filming that included creating the "bookends," short segments that flank each episode …
Paula Parisi
Paula ParisiThe trip has Eastern bookends. It began Monday in Ottawa and ends next Sunday in Atlanta. The New York Times
The New York Times3
: one of two similar players on a team who play on opposite sides of the field or court
… Taylor is playing without bookend outside linebacker Carl Banks, who is sidelined with a wrist injury. Peter Kind
Peter Kindbookend
2 of 2verb
bookended; bookending
transitive verb
1
: to be on both sides or ends of (something or someone) : flank
… dimples bookending his smile. Jennifer Kornreich
—often used in passive constructions Jennifer Kornreich … a squat sports arena of concrete and black glass bookended by a pair of massive concrete cylinders … Wells Tower
Wells Tower2
a
: to begin and end (something) with two similar things or with the same thing
… Klim and Thorpe had bookended the relay with two of the fastest 100-meter split times ever … Alexander Wolff
Alexander WolffHe bookends his meaty battle narrative with a thorough analysis of Roosevelt's internment policy … Jonathan Mahler
Jonathan Mahler b
: to serve as or mark the beginning and ending of (something) : to be the first and last parts or events of (something)
… a movie that, together with All the President's Men, bookends the era of heroic investigative journalism. Rand Richards Cooper
—often used in passive constructions Rand Richards Cooper… the period bookended by the Civil War and the civil rights movement. Christopher Benfey
Christopher BenfeyThe anthology is bookended by an introductory essay by the editors … and an epilogue … C. L. Salter
C. L. Salter
Example Sentences
Noun a pair of bookends shaped like horses He used an empty flowerpot as a bookend.
Recent Examples on the Web Rebekah Lowin, Country Living, 17 Aug. 2022 Live entertainment will take place throughout the day on the two bookend stages at the eastern and western ends of the festival area. Carol Kovach, cleveland, 14 June 2022 Those are the bookend ages of the oldest Home Run Derby participant, Albert Pujols, and the second-youngest winner, Juan Soto. Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 19 July 2022 Also showing up beautifully on KFSD is the descending rear-inflow jet and re-intensifying bookend vortex. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 5 July 2022 Thomas also finished ranked among the top 20, giving the Seminoles a bookend pair that accounted for 18.5 of the team’s 33 quarterback sacks. Matt Murschel, orlandosentinel.com, 25 Feb. 2022 The bookend appearances of DeSantis and Trump -- from the opening act to the prime-time headliner -- shine an even brighter light on the relationship between the governor and the former President. Steve Contorno And Jeff Zeleny, CNN, 24 Feb. 2022 This year, Eastman became a bookend of the festival. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2022 If so, there may yet be hope for Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the other bookend of Washington’s antitrust obsession with big tech. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 10 May 2022 See More
Noun
One of our favorite holidays is the bookend to this fabulous time of year. Rebekah Lowin, Country Living, 17 Aug. 2022 Live entertainment will take place throughout the day on the two bookend stages at the eastern and western ends of the festival area. Carol Kovach, cleveland, 14 June 2022 Those are the bookend ages of the oldest Home Run Derby participant, Albert Pujols, and the second-youngest winner, Juan Soto. Greg Moore, The Arizona Republic, 19 July 2022 Also showing up beautifully on KFSD is the descending rear-inflow jet and re-intensifying bookend vortex. Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 5 July 2022 Thomas also finished ranked among the top 20, giving the Seminoles a bookend pair that accounted for 18.5 of the team’s 33 quarterback sacks. Matt Murschel, orlandosentinel.com, 25 Feb. 2022 The bookend appearances of DeSantis and Trump -- from the opening act to the prime-time headliner -- shine an even brighter light on the relationship between the governor and the former President. Steve Contorno And Jeff Zeleny, CNN, 24 Feb. 2022 This year, Eastman became a bookend of the festival. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2022 If so, there may yet be hope for Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the other bookend of Washington’s antitrust obsession with big tech. Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, 10 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1907, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1956, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
bookend
noun
book·end ˈbu̇k-ˌend
: a support at the end of a row of books to keep them standing up