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

According to the terms of that extension, Jarmond would be owed roughly $7.1 million, or the full amount of a contract that runs through June 30, 2029, if he was terminated without cause.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Under federal law, Congress can vote to terminate a national emergency declared by the president.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Supreme Court ruled in favor of a deputy in Georgia who terminated a high-speed pursuit by pushing his bumper against the back of the other car, causing it to drive off the road and crash.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Changing existing contracts can be tricky for both parties, especially under employment-at-will laws, where a company may terminate your employment at any time, for any reason and without any legal ramifications.

Read more on MarketWatch

Another issue that irks the families of victims is a longstanding Palestinian program that paid money to family members of Palestinian prisoners—a program that the Palestinian Authority said in recent months it has terminated.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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