conclude

American  

[kuhn-klood] / kənˈklud /

verb (used with object)

concluded, concluding

1. to bring to an end; finish; terminate.

   to conclude a speech with a quotation from the Bible.

2. to say in conclusion.

   At the end of the speech he concluded that we had been a fine audience.

3. to bring to a decision or settlement; settle or arrange finally.

   to conclude a treaty.

4. to determine by reasoning; deduce; infer.

   They studied the document and concluded that the author must have been an eyewitness.

5. to decide, determine, or resolve.

   He concluded that he would go no matter what the weather.

6. Obsolete.

   1. to shut up or enclose.

   2. to restrict or confine.

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verb (used without object)

concluded, concluding

1. to come to an end; finish.

   The meeting concluded at ten o'clock.

2. to arrive at an opinion or judgment; come to a decision; decide.

   The jury concluded to set the accused free.

conclude British  

/ kənˈkluːd /

verb

1. (also intr) to come or cause to come to an end or conclusion

2. (takes a clause as object) to decide by reasoning; deduce

   the judge concluded that the witness had told the truth

3. to arrange finally; settle

   to conclude a treaty

   it was concluded that he should go

4. obsolete to confine

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Other Word Forms

• concludable
  adjective
• concluder
  noun
• concludible
  adjective
• nonconcluding
  adjective
• preconclude
  verb (used with object)
• unconcludable
  adjective

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.

Example Sentences

Based on these results, the researchers conclude that continuing to focus on removing amyloid beta is unlikely to lead to major improvements for patients.

From Science Daily • May 4, 2026

If it finds fewer partners willing to take collective action, Riyadh may conclude it needs to bolster its unilateral ability to shape market balances.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

The best the judge could do was reassure Babb that he had acted reasonably at the scene and declare he could not conclude with sufficient certainty that Gamble had committed any crimes.

From Slate • May 4, 2026

After the King and Queen conclude their time in New York, they return to Washington, where the Trumps will say a formal goodbye to the pair on Thursday.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

From this, linguists conclude that ten was the basic unit in the Germanic protolanguages that English came from, and thus those people used a base-10 number system.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

Related Words

• accomplish
• achieve
• carry out
• confirm
• decide
• determine
• establish
• rule
• work out