conclude
Americanverb (used with object)
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concludes,
present (3rd person singular)
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concluded,
past participle, past
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concluding
present participle
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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)
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concludes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
concluded,
past participle, past
-
concluding
present participle
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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concludernoun
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preconcludeverb (used with object)
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concludableadjective
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concludibleadjective
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nonconcludingadjective
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unconcludableadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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concludesimple
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concludessimple
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have concludedperfect
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has concludedperfect
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am concludingprogressive
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are concludingprogressive
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is concludingprogressive
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have been concludingperfect progressive
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has been concludingperfect progressive
Past
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concludedsimple
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had concludedperfect
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was concludingprogressive
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were concludingprogressive
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had been concludingperfect progressive
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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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.
See Examples For:
Based on the designs and materials available during World War II, the researchers conclude that Nazi Germany lacked the resources necessary to make either its heavy water reactor or a graphite-based alternative operational.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026
“As before, we conclude ... the No Vigilantes Act attempts to directly regulate the United States in its performance of governmental functions,” Judge Mark J. Bennett wrote for the panel.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
It is why the review team said it could not yet conclude over-diagnosis was happening "at scale".
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
This, and a range of other publications hailing Asia’s economic “miracle” led Edwards to conclude “too many people believed the beguiling narrative” and as a consequence, “lent these economies cheap, abundant capital which was misallocated.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
“But I still have to go to school,” I conclude wearily.
From "Linked" by Gordon Korman
Stateside listeners will be delighted to learn that the edition concludes with “Watching the Detectives,” the searing track that was appended to the American release.
From Salon ● Oct. 14, 2026
Further performances and casts are slated before the run concludes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
The video concludes with André and his securtiy walking away from Hanks and his posse.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
"Studying the mechanisms of how dying cells can be removed efficiently from tissues is of very high relevance to human health," concludes Ruprecht.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 5, 2026
Dr. Harlow concludes that Phineas had "a great fondness for children, horses, and dogs—only exceeded by his attachment for his tamping iron, which was his constant companion during the remainder of his life."
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
Kraft Heinz shelved its planned split in February after a new leader concluded its problems were fixable with more investment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026
Major League Baseball is monitoring the situation and could conduct its own review after the state and federal matters are concluded.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
The panel concluded there had been a significant imbalance of power in the relationship.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
It’s not clear what form this new push will take, but Gates has concluded that op-eds and media interviews aren’t enough.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
“So it was because Markov always tried to take care and see that we were protected that we made it back,” Katya concluded.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
The next morning, there were shocked faces when the players realised everybody had made it to breakfast unscathed, with the celebrities concluding that one player must have been recruited.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Discounts and low-rate financing can attract buyers, but they also cut into that profit, so investors need to know what they cost before concluding that demand will last.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
He said Canada and India look forward to concluding negotiations "in the coming months."
From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026
The leader of the Piddington Parish council, Tim McNally, has written to President Trump, after concluding the government wasn’t responding to the village’s concerns.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
“Yes, and civilization is sterilization,” Bernard went on, concluding on a tone of irony the second hypnopsdic lesson in elementary hygiene.
From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
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