dead end

¹

noun

1. something, as a street or water pipe, that has no exit.
2. a position that offers no hope of progress; blind alley; cul-de-sac:

   His theory led him to a dead end.

dead-end

²

[ ded-end ]

adjective

1. terminating in a dead end:

   a dead-end street.

2. Also dead-ended. having no possibility for or hope of progress, advancement, etc.:

   a low-level, dead-end job.

3. leading a life in the slums:

   growing up as a tough dead-end kid.

verb (used without object)

1. to come to a dead end:

   The road dead-ends at the lake.

dead end

noun

1. another name for cul-de-sac
2. a situation in which further progress is impossible
3. dead-end ( as modifier )

   a dead-end street

   a dead-end job

verb

1. intr to come to a dead end

Word History and Origins

Origin of dead end¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Origin of dead end²

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

We are at a dead end in a meaningless war, and we are paying the bill for this fighting every day.

From The Daily Beast

For years he seemed well on his way to a professional dead end, or worse.

From The Daily Beast

“My personal life had basically reached a dead end and the pressures on me were intolerable,” he says.

From The Daily Beast

After lightly interrogating a couple of the delivery boys at Afghan Brothers, we realized we had hit a dead end.

From The Daily Beast

But the pleasures of vengeance and hedonism prove a dead end for Wanda.

From The Daily Beast

Eventually the rift widened a little, and they came to a dead end, beyond which lay the cave.

From Project Gutenberg

It was like running though a maze of twisty little passages, all alike, every one leading to the same dead end.

From Project Gutenberg

He ate it quickly, then sat brooding over the empty tray, hating to admit to another dead end.

From Project Gutenberg

Things was going pretty good; but you might guess yours truly couldn't stand the dead end of things.

From Project Gutenberg

The Judge threw away the dead end of his cigar, and shouldered his way into the inmost circle.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blocked
• closed