conclude

The word “conclude” means to bring something to an end; to finish. In plain terms, to finish something, or to reach a final decision or judgment based on evidence.

“Conclude” is pronounced kuhn-KLOOD (/kənˈkluːd/ in IPA).

Here is “conclude” used in a sentence: “The ceremony concluded with a round of applause.”

The opposite of “conclude” — its antonyms — are begin, initiate, start and commence.

“Conclude” is a verb.

The word “conclude” comes from Latin. From Latin conclūdere, "to shut up, close, end.".

“Conclude” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Conclude” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to bring something to an end; to finish.

To conclude is to reach a final judgment after considering the evidence, usually stated as a definite decision. To infer is to work out something that is suggested but not directly stated; inference is a step in the reasoning, while a conclusion is the endpoint you arrive at.

Both involve reaching a judgment through reasoning. "Deduce" stresses arriving at a specific answer by logical steps from known facts, while "conclude" simply means to decide something after weighing the evidence, and it can also mean to bring an event or piece of writing to an end.

"Conclude" is the more formal choice and suits speeches, meetings, ceremonies, and written work, as in "she concluded her talk." "End" and "finish" are plainer and more general, so you might conclude a meeting in formal writing but finish dinner in everyday speech.

To conclude is to decide something after considering the evidence, so a conclusion is supported by reasoning. To assume is to take something as true without proof, before or instead of examining the evidence, which is the opposite starting point from concluding.