terminate

[ tur-muh-neyt ]

/ ˈtɜr məˌneɪt /

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See synonyms for: terminate / terminated / terminating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), ter·mi·nat·ed, ter·mi·nat·ing.

to bring to an end; put an end to: to terminate a contract.

to occur at or form the conclusion of: The countess's soliloquy terminates the play.

to bound or limit spatially; form or be situated at the extremity of.

to dismiss from a job; fire: to terminate employees during a recession.

verb (used without object), ter·mi·nat·ed, ter·mi·nat·ing.

to end, conclude, or cease.

(of a train, bus, or other public conveyance) to end a scheduled run at a certain place: This train terminates in New York.

to come to an end (often followed by at, in, or with).

to issue or result (usually followed by in).

OTHER WORDS FOR terminate

1, 2 end, finish, conclude, close, complete.

See synonyms for terminate on Thesaurus.com

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of terminate

1580–90; verbal use of late Middle English terminate (adjective) “limited,” from Latin terminātus, past participle of termināre. See term, -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM terminate

ter·mi·na·tive, adjectiveter·mi·na·tive·ly, adverbnon·ter·mi·na·tive, adjectivenon·ter·mi·na·tive·ly, adverb

self-ter·mi·nat·ing, adjectiveself-ter·mi·na·tive, adjectiveun·ter·mi·nat·ed, adjectiveun·ter·mi·nat·ing, adjectiveun·ter·mi·na·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use terminate in a sentence

Proctorio’s Olsen said the exam only terminates if a student’s Internet access drops for more than 2 minutes or if they try to open an unauthorized program.
Cheating-detection companies made millions during the pandemic. Now students are fighting back.|Drew Harwell|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
The city terminated the contract with the foster care agency.
Supreme Court appears poised to rule for foster care agency against LGBTQ couples|Chris Johnson|November 4, 2020|Washington Blade
Others moved out before finishing the program and five residencies were terminated — including those of Jacob, Clarida and another woman asked to leave in May, Precious Middleton.
Domestic violence survivors say they were kicked out by the housing program that promised to help them|Rachel Chason, Katie Mettler|October 30, 2020|Washington Post
Many callers say they were terminated after they asked for protective equipment on the job, Fernandez said.
Workers are getting fired and penalized for reporting COVID safety violations|lbelanger225|October 23, 2020|Fortune

As the story makes clear, the source Prospect cites is Steve Aleman, the company’s former chief financial officer, who was abruptly terminated in August 2019 after 12 years at Prospect, including nearly six as CFO.
A Hospital Chain Said Our Article Was Inaccurate. It’s Not.|by Peter Elkind|October 12, 2020|ProPublica
The lawyers work tirelessly to delay the execution after the prison botched its first attempt at terminating their client.
‘The Good Wife’ Is Back With a Terrific Fifth Season Premiere|Chancellor Agard|September 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Terminating me for telling the truth of a Caucasian officer kicking a mentally ill man is disgusting.
Rogue L.A. Cop’s Facebook Manifesto: ‘You Will Now Live the Life of Prey’|The Daily Beast|February 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
A sanction could be anything from reducing to terminating participation.
Feds Bust Student Exchange Program|Lois Romano|October 21, 2011|DAILY BEAST
With her in the room is a woman whose 17-year-old daughter is terminating her own pregnancy.
Mad Men's 12 Most Memorable Moments|Jace Lacob|October 18, 2010|DAILY BEAST
In answer to them I beg to state, that all the names terminating in -by unquestionably are of Danish origin.
Notes and Queries, Number 194, July 16, 1853|Various
The fruit consists of radiating, somewhat woody fibres, terminating in a tuberculated and slightly papillose surface.
Early Western Travels 1748-1846, Volume XVI|Various
One of Friedrich Rex's worst adventures was his latest; commenced some five or six years ago , and now not far from terminating.
History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. III. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle
If the terminating leaflets of the common ash are even (they being usually odd) they bring "luck or a lover."
Notes and Queries for Worcestershire|John Noake
Serving places on the Essex shore of the Thames estuary, terminating at Shoeburyness.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 4|Various

British Dictionary definitions for terminate

terminate

/ (ˈtɜːmɪˌneɪt) /

verb

(when intr, often foll by in or with) to form, be, or put an end (to); concludeto terminate a pregnancy; their relationship terminated amicably

(tr) to connect (suitable circuitry) to the end of an electrical transmission line to absorb the energy and avoid reflections

(intr) maths (of a decimal expansion) to have only a finite number of digits

(tr) slang to kill (someone)

Derived forms of terminate

terminative, adjectiveterminatory, adjective

Word Origin for terminate

C16: from Latin terminātus limited, from termināre to set boundaries, from terminus end

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

terminate

OTHER WORDS FOR terminate

Origin of terminate

OTHER WORDS FROM terminate

Words related to terminate

How to use terminate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for terminate

Derived forms of terminate

Word Origin for terminate