end up

verb

ended up; ending up; ends up
: to reach or come to a place, condition, or situation that was not planned or expected
The book ended up in the trash.
He didn't want to end up like his father.
She ended up a rich woman.
He ended up (living) in a nursing home.
The movie we wanted to see was sold out so we ended up seeing a different one.

Examples of end up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Indiana was pushed to the brink by Nebraska, but ended up winning 20-17 on the road Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026 Other times, a bike maker can slap on a new paint job, a different set of wheels and a cushier seat, and somehow end up with a bike that sells like hotcakes. — New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026 Malau’ulu ended up running with the football a lot more than normal out of respect for Orange Lutheran’s secondary. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026 Advocates say that without Medicaid, people will not be able to afford private insurance and will either delay care or end up in emergency rooms, adding pressure to a strained health system. — Mikella Schuettler, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for end up

Rhymes for end up

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Browse Nearby Words

enduement
end up
endura
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Cite this Entry

“End up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/end%20up. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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