conclude
Americanverb (used with object)
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to bring to an end; finish; terminate.
to conclude a speech with a quotation from the Bible.
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to say in conclusion.
At the end of the speech he concluded that we had been a fine audience.
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to bring to a decision or settlement; settle or arrange finally.
to conclude a treaty.
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to determine by reasoning; deduce; infer.
They studied the document and concluded that the author must have been an eyewitness.
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to decide, determine, or resolve.
He concluded that he would go no matter what the weather.
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Obsolete.
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to shut up or enclose.
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to restrict or confine.
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verb (used without object)
verb
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(also intr) to come or cause to come to an end or conclusion
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(takes a clause as object) to decide by reasoning; deduce
the judge concluded that the witness had told the truth
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to arrange finally; settle
to conclude a treaty
it was concluded that he should go
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obsolete to confine
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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concludibleadjective
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concludableadjective
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preconcludeverb (used with object)
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nonconcludingadjective
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unconcludableadjective
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concludernoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have concludedperfect
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has concludedperfect 3rd person singular
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am concludingprogressive 1st person singular
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are concludingprogressive
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concludingparticiple
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is concludingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been concludingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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concludessingular 3rd person
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have been concludingperfect progressive
Past
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had concludedperfect
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had been concludingperfect progressive
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concludedsimple
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concludedparticiple
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were concludingprogressive plural
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was concludingprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of conclude
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin conclūdere “to close, end an argument,” equivalent to con- con- + -clūdere, combining form of claudere “to close ”
Explanation
The verb conclude means two related things: coming to a decision, and bringing to a close. Conclude is related to the word close, which is related to an old Latin word for "barrier" or "bolt" — the kind you put on a door. When you conclude something, it's as though you're pulling a door shut and bolting it. If your girlfriend concludes an argument by leaving the room and slamming the door, you can conclude that she's angry at you.
Vocabulary lists containing conclude
Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Academic Vocabulary Toolkit 1, Words 21-30
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mandery is right to conclude that such statutes “haven’t remotely fulfilled their promise.”
From Slate • Jun. 8, 2026
In the end, the experts conclude, the snapshot figure that comprises the total fertility rate is more complicated than it seems, and the future remains a mystery.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
Uranium-thorium dating has now been to examine the pigments, leading the international team conducting the research under Nash to conclude the lines were created by "human agency" rather than natural processes.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
Some see emails like this and conclude their boss could be hostile to them, leaving them fearful of losing promotion opportunities or worse.
From Salon • May 25, 2026
As I watch my friends alternately tease me, ponder serious things, and stuff their faces with junk food, I conclude that they’re still the best.
From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
