terminate
1 of 2verb
ter·mi·nate ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt 
terminated; terminating
intransitive verb
1
: to form an ending
2
: to come to an end in time
3
: to extend only to a limit (such as a point or line)
especially : to reach a terminus
transitive verb
1
a
: to bring to an end : close
terminate a marriage by divorce
terminate a transmission line
b
: to discontinue the employment of
workers terminated because of slow business
c
: to form the conclusion of
review questions terminate each chapter
2
: to serve as an ending, limit, or boundary of
3
: assassinate, kill
terminate
2 of 2adjective
ter·mi·nate ˈtər-mə-nət
: coming to an end or capable of ending
Synonyms
Verb
- close
- close out
- complete
- conclude
- end
- finish
- round (off or out)
- wind up
- wrap up
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The branches of that tree terminate in flower clusters. The rail line terminates in Boston. You have to terminate the program before the computer will shut down properly. His contract was terminated last month. He was terminated last month. Plans are being made to terminate unproductive employees. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2022 The name will replace Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium after Capital One Bank and the school agreed to terminate their partnership. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2022 An attorney for Kanye West, who goes by Ye, told the Associated Press that a letter has been sent to the clothing chain Thursday seeking to terminate the contract between Gap and West’s company, Yeezy. BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2022 In April, a New York state judge upheld Trump's right to continue to operate the course after former Mayor Bill de Blasio attempted to terminate Trump's operating license following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2022 Police were ordered to terminate the pursuit at the West 130th Street exit from I-71. Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 15 Sep. 2022 In March 2018, the University began proceedings to terminate Ollie for just cause, with three years and more than $10 million remaining on his contract. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 15 Sep. 2022 The primary issue centers around attendance policies that workers say are being used to terminate and otherwise discipline railroad crews for taking off for absences because of medical appointments and bereavement. Steven Portnoy, CBS News, 13 Sep. 2022 Zatko’s sweeping claims, if proven, could aid Elon Musk in his attempt to terminate his forty-four-billion-dollar agreement to acquire Twitter, a legal fight with implications of billions of dollars for investors. Ronan Farrow, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2022 Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2021 See More
Verb
Planned Parenthood of Illinois has estimated that 20,000 to 30,000 additional patients will travel here to terminate a pregnancy each year after Roe’s demise. Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2022 The name will replace Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium after Capital One Bank and the school agreed to terminate their partnership. Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2022 An attorney for Kanye West, who goes by Ye, told the Associated Press that a letter has been sent to the clothing chain Thursday seeking to terminate the contract between Gap and West’s company, Yeezy. BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2022 In April, a New York state judge upheld Trump's right to continue to operate the course after former Mayor Bill de Blasio attempted to terminate Trump's operating license following the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2022 Police were ordered to terminate the pursuit at the West 130th Street exit from I-71. Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 15 Sep. 2022 In March 2018, the University began proceedings to terminate Ollie for just cause, with three years and more than $10 million remaining on his contract. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 15 Sep. 2022 The primary issue centers around attendance policies that workers say are being used to terminate and otherwise discipline railroad crews for taking off for absences because of medical appointments and bereavement. Steven Portnoy, CBS News, 13 Sep. 2022 Zatko’s sweeping claims, if proven, could aid Elon Musk in his attempt to terminate his forty-four-billion-dollar agreement to acquire Twitter, a legal fight with implications of billions of dollars for investors. Ronan Farrow, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2022 Adjective
That control gave Puglisi the sole authority to set up new credit card accounts, change spending limits, manage card access and terminate accounts. Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Latin terminatus, past participle of terminare, from terminus
First Known Use
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
terminate
verb
ter·mi·nate ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt
terminated; terminating
: end entry 2, close
I terminated my membership.
Legal Definition
terminate
verb
ter·mi·nate ˈtər-mə-ˌnāt
terminated; terminating
intransitive verb
: to come to an end in time or effect
transitive verb
1
: to bring to a definite end especially before a natural conclusion
terminate a contract
compare cancel, rescind 2
: to discontinue the employment of
terminates
verb
1
as in ends
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point we need to terminate the discussion for this evening, but we'll resume tomorrow morning Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ends
- concludes
- finishes
- completes
- closes
- wraps up
- winds up
- suspends
- consummates
- rings down the curtain (on)
- closes out
- climaxes
- puts paid to
- halts
- crowns
- perfects
- rounds (off or out)
- stops
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- begins
- commences
- starts
- opens
- inaugurates
2
as in ceases
to come to an end this class will terminate with the arrival of Memorial Day Synonyms & Similar Words
- ends
- ceases
- stops
- expires
- halts
- concludes
- closes
- passes
- dies
- finishes
- determines
- discontinues
- goes
- elapses
- quits
- lapses
- winds up
- stalls
- breaks off
- leaves off
- suspends
- breaks up
- lets up
- dead-ends
- pauses
- stays
- bites the dust
- winks (out)
- abates
- gives over
- cuts out
- knocks off
- breaks down
- packs (up or in)
- desists (from)
- refrains (from)
- winds down
- lays off (of)
- conks (out)
- peters (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continues
- persists
- extends
- hangs on
- prolongs
- protracts
- draws out
3
as in defines
to mark the limits of terminated the area set aside for the runners to change their clothes with a series of folding screens Synonyms & Similar Words
- defines
- delimits
- demarcates
- circumscribes
- describes
- limits
- bounds
- governs
- demarks
- determines
- marks (off)
- delineates
- controls
4
as in assassinates
to put to death deliberately the operative's covert mission was to terminate the leader of the opposition Synonyms & Similar Words
- assassinates
- executes
- murders
- slays
- kills
- liquidates
- neutralizes
- gets
- dispatches
- destroys
- snuffs
- shoots
- whacks
- croaks
- rubs out
- slaughters
- takes out
- offs
- ices
- puts away
- does in
- knocks off
- bumps off
- eliminates
- does away with
- claims
- eradicates
- smites
- zaps
- blows away
- annihilates
- cuts down
- shoots down
- blots out
- exterminates
- carries off
- fells
- massacres
- wipes out
- butchers
- mows (down)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- revives
- restores
- raises
- animates
- resurrects
- resuscitates
5
as in removes
to let go from office, service, or employment he was terminated for constantly coming in to work late Synonyms & Similar Words
- removes
- dismisses
- retires
- sacks
- fires
- releases
- discharges
- axes
- bounces
- musters out
- turns off
- cans
- downsizes
- cashiers
- pink-slips
- shows (someone) the door
- sends packing
- separates
- lays off
- unseats
- excesses
- trims
- kicks out
- furloughs
- throws out
- boots (out)
- drums (out)
- chucks (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- retains
- engages
- employs
- keeps
- hires
- signs (up or on)
- takes on
- contracts
- rehires
- reemploys
- subcontracts
- recruits