end up
6 synonyms for end up, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Phrasal verb — To reach a particular situation, place or state in the end, especially one that was not planned.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
wind up
finish up
land up
turn out
wind up doing
finish by doing
Synonyms by Meaning
1. phrasal verb
To reach a particular situation, place or state in the end, especially one that was not planned.
“We set out for Bath and ended up in Bristol.”
wind up
finish up
land up
turn out
2. phrasal verb
Followed by an -ing verb: to do something eventually, after other things happened first.
“I ended up paying for the whole meal.”
wind up doing
finish by doing
How to use end up
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
end up doing
end up in hospital
end up together
end up broke
end up like
Neutral to informal; very common in speech.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 'end up' and 'wind up'?
They mean the same thing in this sense and are interchangeable, though 'wind up' is more informal and slightly more common in American English. Note that 'wind up' has other meanings, such as closing a company or teasing someone, which 'end up' does not.
Is it 'end up doing' or 'end up to do'?
Always 'end up doing'. 'End up' is followed by an -ing form, a noun phrase or a preposition: end up crying, end up a millionaire, end up in hospital.
Does 'end up' always suggest something bad?
No, but it does imply the outcome was unplanned. 'She ended up running the company' is entirely positive; the word simply signals that the result came about by chance or drift rather than design.
