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

Carrick's side conclude their 2025-26 campaign with fixtures against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford on Sunday, 17 May and a final-day trip to Brighton on 24 May.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

“We don’t know if it’s going to conclude today, as I mentioned, it’s a methodical step each each time we get something, we go in another direction. We get something, we pursue that,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

It also occurred to me that someone as active and curious as my mother was bound to conclude her story in midsentence.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

"Since LHS 3844 b lacks such a silicate crust, one may conclude that Earth-like plate tectonics does not apply to this planet, or it is ineffective," says Sebastian Zieba.

From Science Daily • May 5, 2026

Using today’s standards, it is easy to conclude that Washington had simply sold out to white society.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

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