conclude

American  

[kuhn-klood] / kənˈklud /

verb (used with object)

• concludes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• concluded,
  past participle,  past
• concluding
  present participle

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)

• concludes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• concluded,
  past participle,  past
• concluding
  present participle

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Participles

• concluding
  present
• concluded
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• conclude
  simple
• concludes
  simple
• have concluded
  perfect
• has concluded
  perfect
• am concluding
  progressive
• are concluding
  progressive
• is concluding
  progressive
• have been concluding
  perfect progressive
• has been concluding
  perfect progressive

Past

• concluded
  simple
• had concluded
  perfect
• was concluding
  progressive
• were concluding
  progressive
• had been concluding
  perfect progressive

Future

• will conclude
  simple
• will have concluded
  perfect
• will be concluding
  progressive
• will have been concluding
  perfect progressive

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

See Examples For:

conclude concludes concluded concluding

So projects get started, but only because the initial plans and proposals help money get flowing—and then they don’t conclude.

From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026

The report did, however, conclude that the woman once charged with overseeing the federal agency responsible for protecting American workers failed to follow several of her own department’s workplace policies.

From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026

It is expected to conclude within six months of the panel being established.

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

This year's games are set to conclude on Sunday.

From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026

“You know Miss Fairfax’s situation in life, I conclude; what she is destined to be?”

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

Instead, because of a painful instance of history repeating itself, the mission concludes with his dishonorable discharge.

From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026

"Understanding how gravity and quantum mechanics fit together is one of the greatest challenges in physics," concludes Foo.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026

He repeats that he’s going to pick up his mom, then concludes by inviting those watching to reach out to him to meet in person.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

This results in a four against four situation which concludes with Mbeumo scoring.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

After that, it’s what sorority the girl was in at Vanderbilt, and she finally concludes by asking what her silver pattern is.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

I say “yet another” because twice in the last two months ago I have concluded one of my columns with a similar message.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

Oura had previously claimed the 95% accuracy, but shifted to a new machine-learning algorithm in 2023, after the study’s research concluded.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

The hour concluded with Mauthe leading the audience in a final refrain, singing that the future is “still in our hands.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026

In his statement, James O'Sullivan concluded: "Always kind-spirited, good humoured, a doting grandfather and a wonderful dad – I will miss him dearly."

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

Bass and the other archaeologists concluded the merchant captain of the ship used these broken implements as scrap bronze, which he or someone else could melt down to make brand-new tools.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

This is a crucial distinction because many commentators in effect have been focusing only on the breadth of Wall Street’s bullishness, and concluding that a top must be near.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

If that were true, astronomers could have been misreading the supernova data and incorrectly concluding that cosmic expansion was speeding up when it was actually slowing.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 29, 2026

After an emotional 11-week trial -- during which Harry gave in-person evidence -- judge Matthew Nicklin sided with the publisher in a July 7 ruling, concluding the "claimants failed to prove their pleaded allegations".

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

"My deepest condolences go out to all of their family, friends and other loved ones," Brookes said, concluding the short hearing.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

Are there any concluding thoughts that you would like to talk about here?

From "Our America: Life and Death on the South Side of Chicago" by LeAlan Jones

Related Words

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