conclude

American

[kuhn-klood] / kənˈklud /

verb (used with object)

concluded, concluding

to bring to an end; finish; terminate.

to conclude a speech with a quotation from the Bible.
to say in conclusion.

At the end of the speech he concluded that we had been a fine audience.
to bring to a decision or settlement; settle or arrange finally.

to conclude a treaty.
to determine by reasoning; deduce; infer.

They studied the document and concluded that the author must have been an eyewitness.
to decide, determine, or resolve.

He concluded that he would go no matter what the weather.
Obsolete.
1. to shut up or enclose.
2. to restrict or confine.

verb (used without object)

concluded, concluding

to come to an end; finish.

The meeting concluded at ten o'clock.
to arrive at an opinion or judgment; come to a decision; decide.

The jury concluded to set the accused free.

conclude British

/ kənˈkluːd /

verb

(also intr) to come or cause to come to an end or conclusion
(takes a clause as object) to decide by reasoning; deduce

the judge concluded that the witness had told the truth
to arrange finally; settle

to conclude a treaty
it was concluded that he should go
obsolete to confine

"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

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 ”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It is not possible to conclude "with certainty" that the wrong donor was used, she says.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Fogelman and his team of writers are already at work on Season 3 of the Hulu series, which will officially conclude the narrative arc of “Paradise.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that it started the trade-barrier investigation on Friday, which should conclude within six months.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

The spokesperson added that “a value-priced private-label launch can get trial, but it is too early to conclude that trial becomes durable switching in a highly brand-led energy category.”

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

Livingston’s breakthrough did not conclude the effort to improve the eleven-inch cyclotrons performance.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023