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

His office said that Schmidt "has taken the personal decision to conclude his service to the implementation of peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina".

From BBC • May 11, 2026

The hearings, which began on May 4, will conclude on Monday.

From Barron's • May 9, 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

Even if companies conclude there is no substance to harassment claims, they will in many cases move to cut checks to avoid protracted disputes playing out in public view.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

And pink sunsets conclude each day like the swirl of a mango, guava, and papaya sorbet.

From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya

Related Words

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